South Korean striking doctors proposed negotiating conditions: first abolish the expansion plan for the next two years

South Korean doctors have been on strike for more than half a year to protest against the government's plans to expand medical schools. The Korea Medical Association (KMA) said on Sunday (September 8) that in order for the medical community to participate in the ruling party's proposed "consultation mechanism between the ruling and opposition doctors" to discuss the issue of medical reform, the plan to expand medical school enrollment in 2025 and 2026 should be completely canceled and the plan to expand medical school enrollment from 2027 should be rediscussed.

Yonhap news agency reported that the relevant people of the doctors' association said that from a common sense point of view, the rush to expand the enrollment of medical students is a problem, if the expansion is reasonable, it should discuss the expansion plan in 2027 and after. After the establishment of the "ruling and opposition medical consultative Consultative mechanism", a reasonable number of recruitment personnel will be discussed, and to reflect the results of the discussion to the enrollment process, it should first abolish the expansion plan in 2025 and 2026, and begin to discuss the expansion plan in 2027.

The official confirmed that the cancellation of the enrollment expansion plan and the re-discussion of the 2027 enrollment expansion issue is a prerequisite for participating in the political consultative mechanism of the ruling and opposition doctors, and said that he has conveyed similar positions to the government several times, so he will no longer formally convey the above views to the government and the political community.

South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Friday it is willing to revise plans to expand medical school enrollment.

"Discussions on quotas for medical schools can start from scratch if the medical community comes up with a reasonable proposal," said a statement issued by President Yoon Seok-yol's office. The statement also urged the medical community to discuss options.

The government had earlier said it would not cancel plans to expand medical schools.