NECESSARY INCREASE. President Yoon Suk Yeols delivers an address to the nation on the government's medical reform plans at the presidential office in Seoul on Monday (April 1, 2024). He stands by the 2,000 increase in medical school admissions amid the continued walk-out of junior doctors who are against it. (Yonhap)
SEOUL – President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday said 2,000 is the minimum necessary increase in medical school admissions, ruling out any adjustment despite a prolonged walkout by junior doctors.
Yoon made the remark during an address to the nation as the standoff between the government and the medical community over the admissions quota showed little sign of a breakthrough.
"Some people claim increasing the number by 2,000 at once is excessive," he said during the live address from the presidential office.
"They even criticize that the government decided on a 2,000-person increase without any clear plans and unilaterally. That is certainly not the case."
Yoon said his bigger concern is that even with the 2,000-person increase, it will be another 10 years before the newly trained doctors join the workforce.
"The number 2,000 is a minimum increase the government came up with through thorough calculations, and followed sufficient discussions with the medical community, including doctors' groups, until the decision was reached," he said. (Yonhap)
