Autonomy in Medical Admissions: A Step Toward Resolving Tensions in South Korea’s Medical Field

The South Korean government has announced that medical schools will have the autonomy to set their own admission quotas starting next year, a decision that has raised hopes of resolving tensions in the medical field. This announcement came after a prolonged strike by over 9,000 resident doctors in protest of the policy to increase medical school enrollment quotas. The crisis escalated as medical students and professors also joined the protest.

The government had previously planned to increase medical school enrollment quotas by 2,000 by 2025, with an additional 10,000 doctors expected by 2023. However, Prime Minister Han described the decision as a step towards finding a compromise amidst a lack of consensus in the medical community. He emphasized the importance of protecting medical students, normalizing education, and resolving conflicts that have arisen.

The core issue of the strike was the government’s plan to increase the number of medical school students, which the protestors believed would compromise the quality of care and increase healthcare costs for patients. The government, however, stated that increasing targets is essential to address the challenges posed by an aging population and the need for medical professionals in crucial sectors. With a projection that nearly 30% of South Korea’s population will be 65 years or older by 2035, there is a growing demand for medical services. The shortage of doctors is a significant concern, with predictions suggesting a shortfall of at least 10,000 doctors by 2035. As the country faces these demographic challenges, finding a balance between increasing enrollment quotas and maintaining the quality of healthcare services remains a pressing issue.

In response to concerns about inadequate training facilities at some universities, six national medical schools have proposed reducing enrollment targets by 50% next year. The government has agreed to allow 32 universities to increase their enrollment targets flexibly, with annual increases ranging from 50% to 10