The presidential office on Tuesday accused the medical sector of “rejecting one-on-one dialogue with the government” and expressed “regret” over their uncooperative attitude.
The government on Monday underscored its determination to carry out its medical reform, stating that “scrapping the current scheme or postponing medical schools' admissions hike for a year is out of perspective."
The government moved to break the deadlock with doctors on Friday by accepting national medical schools’ request to flexibly adjust their admission quota for next year, but the medical community is not welcoming the government’s offer.
A group of 1,362 junior doctors on Monday collectively filed a complaint against Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo on an allegation of power abuse to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).
Interior Minister Lee Sang-min said Wednesday that the government’s policies on the medical school admission quota hike are “always open and can change for the better if more reasonable grounds are provided.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol is willing to have a “direct conversation" with junior doctors to listen to their voices, his office said Tuesday.
The tightened rule, which goes into effect Wednesday, comes as some foreigners have reportedly exploited the nation's health insurance system.
The coalition — a united front of emergency steering committees at medical schools — pointed out “discord” in the government’s response, viewing the minister as a hindrance in advancing the negotiations over the med school admissions quota hikes.
The country’s largest doctors’ group elected a new leader who urged President Yoon Suk Yeol to “directly participate in talks with junior doctors to convince them to return.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday promised to make a “bold investment” in the medical sector, giving it the same weight as national security, amid an escalating standoff with doctors.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap