| Medical crisis in 2024: challenges for Korea’s medical policy |
Hyoung Wook Park 
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Department of Social Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea |
| 2024년 의료 대란: 대한민국 의료정책에 던지는 과제 |
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박형욱
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단국대학교 의과대학 인문사회의학교실 |
Correspondence:
Hyoung Wook Park,
Email: hywopark@gmail.com
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Received: 3 July 2024 • Accepted: 8 July 2024 |
| Abstract |
Background: On February 6, 2024, the Korean government announced a drastic increase in the medical schools’ admission quota to 2,000, sending shockwaves through the medical community. In protest, residents submitted their resignations and medical students submitted their leaves of absence.
Current Concepts: The government has used many shocking tactics in pushing for greater medical school quotas. First, the government used lies to incite public opinion and socially isolate a group of doctors. Second, it violently imposed law enforcement against residents in the process of promoting the medical school expansion policy. Third, it pursued a medical school expansion policy that did not consider the quality of medical education. Triggered by the government’s rapid expansion of medical schools, fierce resistance from doctors and medical students has revealed structural contradictions in the Korean healthcare system.
Discussion and Conclusion: In essence, the medical crisis of 2024 has been created by the government. The medical community cannot stop its legitimate criticism and resistance for the following reasons. First, this is not just a medical crisis but a crisis of the Korean constitution, rule of law, and democracy. Second, the fate of future generations depends on the resolution of the 2024 medical crisis. Third, the government’s policies are not saving essential medicine, but pushing it off the cliff. |
| Key Words:
Government, Health policy, Law enforcement, Medical education, Republic of Korea |
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