The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has signaled it will intensify its response under the current leadership against the government's policy to increase medical school admissions by an annual average of 668 students over five years starting in 2027. However, the association did not specify concrete protest measures such as collective walkouts or rallies.
The KMA held an extraordinary general assembly at its headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 28th. A vote on establishing an "emergency committee on medical school enrollment expansion" was defeated, with 24 votes in favor (19.2%), 97 against (77.6%), and 4 abstentions among 125 delegates present.
In a resolution adopted at the assembly, the KMA delegate council stated, "We define the government's unilateral enrollment expansion policy as 'political tyranny' that will cause the collapse of healthcare." The resolution criticized the decision as "an irresponsible act that neglects deteriorating training environments and destroys the healthcare delivery system without fundamental solutions for essential medical services."
The resolution added, "The current leadership will mobilize all means and wage a powerful struggle centered on the pan-medical community committee," and "The government bears full responsibility for any paralysis of the healthcare system and harm to citizens resulting from ignoring the medical community's warnings and forcing through the expansion."
The delegates urged the KMA leadership to "immediately review all means, including the strongest possible actions."
This outcome has strengthened the position of the current leadership under Chairman Kim. However, observers note that the defeat of the emergency committee proposal reflected concerns about internal division within the medical community rather than confidence in the leadership. The assembly was reportedly characterized largely by criticism of the leadership's response.
Apparently conscious of this sentiment, Chairman Kim apologized, saying, "I apologize unconditionally for failing to prevent the storm of medical school enrollment expansion."
With the enrollment increase now confirmed, the KMA leadership plans to focus on preventing disruptions to medical education and securing practical benefits for the medical community. Chairman Kim revealed that he met with Kim Young-ho, chairman of the National Assembly's Education Committee, on the 26th and held positive discussions on forming a "Medical Education Council" with substantive authority. He added that the association is also negotiating specific operational plans with the Ministry of Health and Welfare for launching a government-medical community consultative body in March.
He emphasized, "Through the newly launched consultative body, we will achieve appropriate compensation for essential and unpopular medical specialties, legislation for criminal immunity in medical accidents, and improvements to harmful laws such as the license revocation act." He added, "For medical residents and students, we will push through effective measures including shortened military and public health doctor service periods, safeguards against inadequate education due to doubled enrollment, resolution of third-year medical student national exam issues, and guaranteed training continuity for returning residents."