South Korea offers to freeze medical student numbers to resolve 13-month dispute

In a bid to end a 13-month dispute that has seen thousands of trainee doctors walk off the job and medical students boycotting classes, South Korea’s education ministry announced on Friday that it will freeze the number of new medical students at approximately 3,000 per year.

The proposal, outlined by Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, is contingent on all trainee doctors returning by the end of March.

The dispute, which began in February 2024, erupted in response to a government plan to increase admissions to medical schools by 2,000 students starting in 2025. Officials argued that the expansion was necessary to address a projected shortage of doctors—particularly in remote areas and amid a rapidly ageing population. However, many in the medical community have maintained that issues such as inadequate pay and challenging work conditions should be addressed before increasing student numbers.

“Our government’s position that the medical school quota should be increased has not changed. But restoring trust between the medical community and the government is also very important,” Minister Lee said during the press conference.

The proposal marks a step back from previous attempts by the administration, led by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, to push through reforms aimed at boosting the number of medical professionals. In January, South Korea’s health ministry reported that about 90% of trainee doctors had resigned out of the 13,531 eligible for hospital appointments, while many medical students had also walked out of classrooms.

Lee Jong-tae, president of the Korea Association of Medical Colleges, expressed hope that the new offer would encourage students to return to their studies. “I am asking all of us to work to have our students come back now,” he said.

The drawn-out dispute has already strained emergency care services, with delays and cancellations of surgeries reported in several hospitals. Political science professor Shin Yul of Myongji University noted that public support for the government’s original plan had waned, a sentiment exacerbated by recent political upheaval following President Yoon’s impeachment over his brief imposition of martial law.

As the government works to resolve the dispute and rebuild trust with the medical community, stakeholders on both sides emphasize that any long-term solution must balance the need for increased medical personnel with improvements in working conditions and overall healthcare infrastructure.

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