Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday urged health reforms amid a boycott by trainee doctors over a medical school admission quota increase. Lee emphasized the need for a long-term perspective in addressing the issue, focusing on reforms that prioritize public health.
According to Anadolu Agency, President Lee stated that the issue “should not be approached from the perspective of serving the interests of a particular individual or organization, but rather from the standpoint of determining what kind of medical system is most desirable for protecting the health rights of the public.” He also called for open dialogue with the protesting trainee doctors to find a resolution.
Thousands of trainee doctors have walked out of their jobs, and many medical students have boycotted classes since February 2024. They are protesting a government medical reform plan that aimed to increase the medical school admission quota by 2,000 starting in 2025. Despite the previous government’s decision to reverse the quota increase, many trainee doctors and medical students have not yet fully returned to their duties.
The ongoing boycott is noted as one of the longest medical protests globally.