South Korea's Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an appeal by doctors and medical professionals seeking to block the South Korean government's plan to increase enrollment in medical schools by up to 2,000 students next year, local media reported. This initiative is in response to the need to increase the number of medical professionals to address South Korea's rapidly aging population and low doctor-to-population ratio.
South Korea's healthcare system has been in turmoil for months due to a strike by more than 10,000 young doctors who have been protesting since February. The number of senior doctors protesting is estimated at between 115,000 and 140,000, making up a significant portion of the medical staff at major hospitals. Doctors claim that medical schools are ill-prepared for a sudden surge in student numbers and believe the situation will compromise the quality of medical services. They argue that the government's plan could cause doctors to perform unnecessary procedures due to increased competition. However, some critics suggest that the main concern for many physicians is that increased competition could reduce their income.
In its ruling, the court emphasized that the government's policy was “procedurally justified and streamlined” and that there were no “obvious procedural or substantive deficiencies.” Despite the decision potentially “violating medical students' right to learn,” the court ruled in favor of “public welfare.”
Prime Minister Han Deok-soo welcomed the court's decision in a street speech, thanking the “judicial government's wise decision” for facilitating the passage of a “major crossroads” in “expansion of medical schools and medical reform.” “The public will no longer tolerate holding patients' lives hostage for collective action,” he said, referring to the issue in which some medical school professors announced closures in protest. “We cannot call ourselves a responsible government if we leave the collapse of essential medical care and local medical care as it is,'' he said, confirming his commitment to continuing reforms.
Lim Hyung-taek, chairman of the Korean Medical Association, criticized the decision, calling it “the final death sentence to destroy the medical system.'' Mr. Lim echoed the feelings of the doctors and medical students who were protesting, saying, “I have no intention of going back'' and “I am planning to repeat the year.'' “There will be about a 10-year medical gap between the first year of pre-med and the fourth year of residency,” Dr Lim said, warning of possible long-term effects.
After the ruling, attorney Lee Byung-cheol, who represents the doctors, reflected on the court's decision, saying, “The lawsuit was 90% successful, but 10% was insufficient.'' He further explained that “while the appeal was dismissed due to public welfare concerns, we have identified a possible solution that we believe will address the court's concerns.” “If we proceed quickly, it is possible to make a final decision by the end of May,” Lee said, expressing optimism about the possibility of another appeal.
