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Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Wednesday reiterated the government’s hardline stance on increasing medical recruitment by 2,000 starting next year.
We urge both sides to start talking over the optimum level of a quota increase after putting behind all their differences.
Tension between the government and doctors in Korea is escalating amid concerns of medical chaos as interns and residents began submitting their resignation letters on Monday to protest the hike in enrollment quotas at medical schools.
Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said in a press briefing that the government was "relieved" that the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) did not announce a collective action plan after a meeting to discuss the matter.
The government said it will increase the medical school enrollment quota starting from next year, considering an expected shortage of some 15,000 doctors by 2035.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap