South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol had a meeting with the leader of a strike by thousands of junior doctors on Thursday. He expressed openness to discussions regarding the government’s proposal to significantly increase medical school admissions.
This meeting marked the first of its kind since more than 90% of the country’s 13,000 trainee doctors went on strike in February, causing disruptions in hospital operations. However, there was no immediate report of any breakthrough following the meeting.
During a televised public address on Monday, Yoon defended his plan to add 2,000 medical students annually, up from the current limit of 3,058. He stated that the government is willing to engage in dialogue if doctors present a unified proposal with logical reasons for their request for a smaller increase in enrollment.
In the meeting, Yoon spent over two hours with Park Dan, the head of the Korea Intern Resident Association’s emergency committee. Yoon’s office reported that the president pledged to respect the trainee doctors’ position in talks with the medical community regarding medical reforms, including the increase in doctors.
It remains unclear if the government intends to initiate talks with the doctors or if Yoon is considering reducing the proposed medical school admissions hike. The striking doctors previously demanded the withdrawal of the 2,000-student admission increase plan.
After the meeting, Park posted a brief message on Facebook suggesting dire consequences for South Korea’s medical service without further elaboration. Attempts to reach Park for additional comments were unsuccessful. Another striker, Ryu Ok Hada, accused Park of meeting Yoon without the approval of fellow strikers.
During the meeting, Yoon listened to Park’s perspectives on challenges within South Korea’s medical system. They also discussed ways to enhance working conditions for interns and medical residents, as stated by Yoon’s office in a statement.
Yoon has emphasized that the 2,000-student enrollment increase is crucial due to South Korea’s rapidly aging population and its low doctor-to-patient ratio compared to other advanced economies.
Despite public support for Yoon’s plan, many doctors argue that universities may struggle to accommodate such a sudden rise in student numbers, potentially compromising the quality of medical services in the country. Critics suggest that doctors fear a surplus of professionals could lead to reduced future earnings in one of South Korea’s highest-paying professions.
Surveys indicate that a majority of ordinary South Koreans back Yoon’s proposal. However, escalating frustrations are evident among the general public due to the prolonged conflict between the government and doctors, resulting in numerous canceled surgeries and medical procedures at hospitals.
Yoon faces pressure, including from within his conservative ruling party, to compromise as the party’s candidates prepare for the challenging parliamentary elections on April 10.
The striking doctors risk license suspensions for missing the government’s deadline to resume work by the end of February. Government officials have indicated a possibility of leniency if the strikers voluntarily return to their hospital duties.
Although the striking doctors represent a minority of the total doctor population in South Korea, estimated between 115,000 and 140,000, they play significant roles in major hospitals, comprising 30% to 40% of the medical staff. They support qualified doctors and department heads during surgeries and other treatments while undergoing training.