South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol Says Government Is Ready For Dialogue And Listens To Strike Doctors

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. (Wikimedia Commons/KOCIS Official/Kim sun joo)

JAKARTA - South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol said on Monday his government was open to holding talks with doctors who opposed his plans to increase admissions to medical schools, and accused critics of offering no reasonable alternatives to reduce the shortage of doctors.

In his 50-minute speech, for the first time President Yoon signaled his willingness to seek compromise on his medical reform proposal, after the government called for dialogue with striking doctors.

President Yoon apologized for the inconvenience caused by the ongoing strike by interns. On the other hand, assessing the medical sector puts their own interests above public health.

"If you find a more precise and reasonable solution, we can discuss it as much as you want," President Yoon said.

"If you present a better opinion and rational reasons, government policies can change for the better."

It is known that more than 90 percent of the 13,000 interns in Ginseng Country have been on strike since February 20, in protest against the government's plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 students starting in 2025, from the original 3,000 students at this time.

South Korea's 52 million population has 2.6 doctors per 1,000 people by 2022, well below the 3.7 average in Organizational Countries for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Governments had previously designed measures to address the shortage of doctors in essential services including pediatric and emergency units, as well as clinics outside the Seoul area, but their efforts failed amid strong resistance from the medical sector.

Some medical professionals say President Yoon's administration has failed to conduct consultations in advance, and the plan will not improve the current situation much, including the low salary for interns.

President Yoon has denied some claims by a group of doctors, highlighting why medical reforms are so important.

"After being silent at the government's request to provide a certain amount related to the quota of medical schools, the medical community is now providing amounts such as 350, 500, and 1,000 for no reason whatsoever," he said.

"If they want to argue that the scale of addition must be reduced, they should put forward an integrated idea with strong scientific evidence, rather than taking collective action," President Yoon said.