South Korea offers to freeze medical student numbers to resolve 13-month dispute

Thousands of such doctors have walked off the job since February 2024 to protest against a government plan to add more students in medical schools, as both sides disputed the remedies needed to fix the healthcare system in a rapidly ageing nation.

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho set a deadline of the end of March for the return of all trainee doctors if the plan is to go ahead, however.

"Our government's position that the medical school quota should be increased has not changed," Lee said. "But restoring trust between the medical community and the government is also very important."

The long drawn-out dispute led to overstretched emergency care facilities, and delays or cancellations to surgeries.

In a post on Facebook, Park Dan, the head of the Korean Intern Resident Association that represents the trainee doctors, said he felt no need to respond to the government's "threat".

The main lobby group for doctors, the Korean Medical Association, said it was up to medical students to decide how to respond to the government's offer, but it called the plan to boost the quota a "failed policy" and urged fresh talks.

Friday's offer from the education ministry is a step back by the government after the administration of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol took a firm line in trying to push through its medical reforms.

The government had planned an increase of 2,000 in medical school admissions from 2025, versus 3,000 now, to meet a large projected shortfall of doctors by 2035.

Authorities have said more doctors were required in remote areas, but many doctors said pay and work conditions were skewing the healthcare system and should be tackled first.

In January, the health ministry said about 90% of trainee doctors had resigned, from 13,531 eligible for hospital appointments. Medical students also walked out of classrooms, and few have returned.

Lee Jong-tae, president of the Korea Association of Medical Colleges, said he believed students would now return to school.

"I am asking all of us to work to have our students come back now," Lee added.

Yoon was impeached over his short-lived imposition of martial law last year. His December 3 decree set a 48-hour deadline for all medical personnel to return to work, including trainee doctors who had left their jobs.

Much of the public initially backed the idea of boosting the number of medical students, but the impact of the walkout on the medical system had started to erode support.

The government had little choice but try to resolve the stalemate now public support had soured, with the situation worsened by Yoon's impeachment, said Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University.

"Now the majority want Yoon to be removed from office," he added. "The mood is not favourable for the government, and the government wants to minimise any problems."