South Korea Freezes Medical School Admissions to End Doctor Walkout

The government proposes maintaining the current cap of 3,000 students annually, aiming to resolve a 13-month dispute over healthcare reforms.

South Korea's education ministry announced a temporary freeze on medical school admissions at 3,000 students per year, contingent on trainee doctors returning to work and medical students resuming classes.
The 13-month dispute stems from a government plan to increase admissions by 2,000 annually starting in 2025 to address a projected doctor shortage by 2035, particularly in rural and essential care fields.
Trainee doctors and medical students argue that the proposed increase would compromise medical education quality and fail to address systemic issues like low pay and poor working conditions in essential care roles.
The healthcare system has been significantly disrupted, with 90% of trainee doctors resigning and widespread delays in emergency care and surgeries, prompting public support for reforms to wane.
The dispute has unfolded during political turmoil, with impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration initially taking a hardline stance; the Constitutional Court is set to decide on Yoon's removal from office soon.