South Korea to raise medical school admissions to end doctors walkout

South Korea’s government is expected to announce on April 19 it is willing to adjust plans to raise medical school admissions in a bid to end a walkout by junior doctors, and in the wake of the ruling party’s crushing election defeat, media reports said.

The country’s healthcare system is under pressure due to a prolonged stalemate between the government and doctors over plans to boost medical school admissions by 2,000, from 3,000, starting in 2025.

On April 18, some medical school deans suggested scaling back the increase by up to half and allowing universities flexibility to determine their quotas, as a potential way to reach a compromise.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will convene an intra-agency meeting and is likely to accept that request, and will hold a briefing to unveil the decision at around 3pm (2pm Singapore time), the Yonhap news agency said, citing his office.

Mr Han’s office was not immediately available for comment. President Yoon Suk-yeol’s office did not immediately provide comment, and the Health Ministry also did not comment but confirmed Mr Han’s planned briefing.

President Yoon has been pushing to add more doctors as an integral element of his medical reforms, an idea that has strong public support amid a shortage of physicians outside the greater Seoul area and in essential medical disciplines including emergency care and paediatrics.

The stand-off had emerged as a key issue in last week’s legislative elections, in which Mr Yoon’s ruling party failed to retake a majority in the opposition-controlled Parliament despite his attempt to display flexibility. Reuters