On Thursday, a South Korean court made a ruling in favor of the government’s controversial plan to significantly increase medical school admissions. This decision comes as a blow to the efforts of current doctors who are against the plan.
For months, there has been a stand-off between the government and doctors who oppose the plan, causing disruptions in the country’s medical system. Over 12,000 junior doctors, including medical interns and residents, have been on strike since February with the support of senior doctors.
The Seoul High Court dismissed a request from the striking doctors and other opponents to block the plan, which aims to raise the yearly medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 from the current cap of 3,058.
The lawyer for the doctors, Lee Byung-chul, stated that they will prepare to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. Lim Hyun-taek, the leader of an association of doctors, mentioned that they will release a statement after reviewing the verdict.
The government’s goal is to add up to 10,000 doctors by 2035 to address the country’s aging population and the shortage of physicians in rural areas and critical specialties like pediatrics and emergency services.
While doctors believe that schools are not ready for a sudden influx of students and that it could harm the medical services, critics argue that the main concern for physicians, who are well-paid in South Korea, is the potential decrease in their incomes with more doctors in the field.
A request to halt the enrollment plan was submitted by 18 individuals, including doctors and medical students. However, the Seoul High Court ruled that they were not qualified to file administrative lawsuits as they were considered a third party in the case.
The court recognized the concerns of current medical students regarding potential harm from the enrollment plan but rejected their request to protect “public welfare.” It emphasized that halting the recruitment plan could have a significant impact on efforts to increase doctors in rural areas and other crucial roles.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo welcomed the court’s decision and expressed the government’s appreciation for the ruling. He stated that the government will finalize the medical school admission plans for the 2025 academic year by the end of the month.
Prime Minister Han urged the striking junior doctors to return to work immediately, highlighting the difficulty in maintaining the country’s emergency medical system without their contribution. However, some striking doctors have signaled their intention to continue the strike despite the government’s plea.
Although the striking doctors represent only a fraction of all doctors in South Korea, their absence has led to disruptions in major hospitals, causing cancellations of surgeries and additional burden on the medical services in the country.
In a show of support, many senior doctors have also submitted resignations at their schools, although they continue to treat patients.
Initially, the government threatened to suspend the licenses of the striking doctors, but later decided to pause these administrative measures to facilitate a dialogue with the strikers.