Recently, the government announced that it will expand the number of medical school students by more than 1,000. because the increasing demand for medical procedures led to concerns about a shortage of medical professionals.

South Korea has a low number of active clinical doctors per 1,000 people (2.6) compared to the OECD average (3.7). Shortages are particularly acute in essential local healthcare personnel (Source: OECD Health Statistics 2023).

However, the medical community argues that the issue is not about an overall doctor shortage, so they argue that addressing the uneven distribution of medical professionals is a solution. Thus, reducing the concentration of healthcare professionals in the capital region has been highlighted.

With reference to this, the government appears inclined to heed the medical community's call for a more balanced approach to medical school admissions expansion, and also removing or relaxing regulations on the "establishment size" and "total personnel costs" of national hospitals.

The medical community asserts that a “detailed” approach to fee increases is essential. For example, increasing fees under the banner of essential specialties may lead to specialists choosing a private practice instead.

As a result, the doctors' association suggests that if the government unilaterally announces its decisions without maintaining trust, they might initiate strike preparations.

Expanding medical school admissions requires careful planning as it will take more than a decade for newly admitted students to be deployed in the field, so more comprehensive policies are needed.

Therefore, improving the work environment for specialized doctors and expanding regional medical school admissions should be thoroughly considered in addition to medical school admissions expansion.

L.L.F reporter Do-young Lee