Seoul: The government has initiated potential negotiations with doctors and political parties, allowing medical schools to grant academic leave to medical students amid ongoing protests against the plan to expand the medical school enrollment quota. Since February, a majority of medical students have boycotted classes in response to the government’s proposal to increase the quota by 2,000 students annually over five years, a protest that has become a pivotal issue during the current medical crisis, further exacerbated by a walkout by junior doctors.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the government had previously threatened penalties and possible expulsion for those medical students who did not commit to returning by March 2025, prioritizing administrative expediency over addressing the medical crisis meaningfully. This stance faced backlash from various groups within the medical community, who pressured the government to allow academic leave as a prerequisite for discussions. The push was supported by religio
us groups and presidents of 40 universities, adding momentum to calls for a government reevaluation.
The recent developments could signify a turning point in resolving the lengthy medical crisis. While there is consensus on the need for more doctors, disagreement persists between the government and the medical community regarding the number of additional doctors required and how to achieve this goal. This discord has led to widespread walkouts, leaving emergency rooms operating with about 40 percent fewer staff. For those with critically ill family members, this has resulted in the grim task of finding available emergency care, with tragic cases of patients dying while awaiting treatment becoming more common.
The government’s concessions have opened a narrow window for initiating four-way consultative talks involving the government, doctors, and both ruling and opposition parties. With the lifting of preconditions, entities like the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and the Korea Association of Medical Col
leges could take on a guiding role to foster doctors’ participation. However, the medical community remains divided, particularly between the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), which continue to demand the nullification of the enrollment expansion.
Leadership conflicts within the KMA, especially concerning allegations against head Lim Hyun-taek, have further complicated the situation. Lim is accused of demanding a financial settlement to drop a defamation lawsuit, adding to the discord. Junior doctors, who bear significant workloads at major hospitals, have been notably vocal, leading to a considerable reduction in emergency room staffing due to their walkout.
As talks begin, both the government and the medical community should focus on resetting the enrollment quota for the 2026 academic year. Doctors’ groups, especially those representing junior doctors, are urged to reconsider their demand to nullify the 2025 enrollment expansion and take a more pragmatic
approach. With rolling admissions covering a significant portion of the medical school enrollment quota already accepted as of mid-September, reversing the 2025 plan could cause major disruptions. Calm and reason are essential for productive talks to address the enrollment quota for 2026.