The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has rejected the government’s proposal to grant admission autonomy to medical schools, leading to continued tensions in the medical field. On April 21, a KMA representative stated that the government’s decision was only a temporary solution and not a fundamental resolution to the issue. With 140,000 members, KMA is the largest professional organization for Korean doctors and has played a key role in recent strikes. The association is urging the President to revisit the issue, stating that there is only a week left to find a solution.
Doctors in Korea protested in front of the presidential palace in Seoul on February 25. Korean officials made concessions to the medical community for the first time on April 19. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced that 32 medical schools would be allowed to determine their own enrollment quotas next year, with annual increases ranging from 50% to 100% starting in 2025. This allows schools to reduce enrollment targets and avoid the requirement to recruit 2,000 seats as initially requested by officials.
The strike was a response to the government’s plan to increase medical school admission quotas by 2,000 places starting in 2025. Doctors argued that this plan would impact the quality of medical services, increase patients’ hospital bills, and create an oversupply of doctors. Instead of increasing enrollment quotas, they believe the government should focus on protecting doctors from malpractice lawsuits, increasing compensation levels, and encouraging professionals to work in underserved areas.
The ongoing standoff between the medical community and the government continues to escalate, threatening
