Kim Taek-woo, president of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), apologized for failing to prevent the government's medical school enrollment expansion and pledged to seek improvements through a medical policy consultative body.
The KMA held an extraordinary general assembly at its headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 28th to discuss transitioning to an emergency committee system in response to the government's decision. The meeting came two weeks after the government announced on the 10th at the 7th Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee that it would increase annual physician training capacity by an average of 668 students from 2027 to 2031, targeting 32 medical schools outside of Seoul.
"I apologize unconditionally for failing to stop the storm of medical school expansion, which is directly tied to the future of our healthcare system," Kim said in his opening remarks. The statement appeared to acknowledge growing calls for accountability and resignation from resident physicians and others.
"The 43rd KMA executive board has repeatedly deliberated on our position, including a possible collective resignation," Kim said. "However, a leadership vacuum would mean the absence of medical community representation in ongoing healthcare policy discussions." He indicated he would not step down.
"Now is a critical time to move forward for the sake of students and residents who represent our future, and for members who steadfastly serve on the medical frontlines," Kim said. "Reckless expansion driven by numbers will inevitably lead to substandard education. The executive board is moving swiftly to prevent the imminent disruption of medical education."
Kim also noted he had held positive discussions with National Assembly Education Committee Chairman Kim Young-ho on establishing a "Medical Education Consultative Body" with substantive authority. He added that the KMA is negotiating specific operational plans with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to launch a medical policy consultative body in March.
"Through the new consultative body, we will achieve proper compensation for essential and underserved medical specialties, legislative immunity from criminal punishment for medical accidents, and reform of harmful laws including the license revocation law," Kim said. "For residents and medical students, we will push through effective measures including shortened military and public health doctor service periods, safeguards against substandard education caused by enrollment doubling, resolution of third-year medical licensing exam issues, and guaranteed training continuity for returning residents."