Doctors reveal government records, slam 2,000-seat enrollment hike as 'groundless'

Medical professors on Monday said that the 2,000 number for admissions expansion was mentioned “only once” during the entire decision-making process for the quota hike, after reviewing the government's documents filed to the appellate court.

Prof. Kim Jong-il, the head of a professorial committee at Seoul National University's College of Medicine, speaks at a press conference on Monday at the Korean Medical Association's headquarters in central Seoul. The medical professors and their attorney disclosed the government's documents filed to the Seoul High Court on the same day. [NEWS1]

Medical professors argued that the 2,000-seat hike in medical schools’ admissions “lacked grounds” as they disclosed government records and documents submitted to the court on Monday.

In a press conference held at the Korean Medical Association's headquarters on the same day, the professors said that the 2,000 number was mentioned “only once” during the entire decision-making process for the quota hike.

On Sunday, the government filed its meeting records and reports supporting the 2,000-seat expansion to Seoul High Court, which ordered the submission of such information in response to an injunction appeal raised by medical professors, junior doctors and medical students.

The president of the Medical Professors Association of Korea, Kim Chang-soo, said he was “shockingly disappointed while reviewing the documents and evidence [provided by the government to the court.]”

Kim said he could not find "evidence of the thousands of pages the government claimed it had." He added that only "three quotes from research reports" backed the government's seat addition plan.

“The specific figure of 2,000 first appeared during a Health and Medical Services Policy Deliberation Committee meeting on Feb. 6, when the government announced the specific enrollment quota hike,” said attorney Lee Byung-cheol, who represents the plaintiffs.

The committee, comprised of health care service suppliers, doctors, medical experts and consumers, is a sub-ministerial body that spearheaded the decision to increase admissions quotas by 2,000 seats.

The plaintiffs also argued that the meeting on Feb. 6 seemed like “just a formality.” They cast doubt over the depth of the meeting, as it “lasted about an hour.”

A medical professional walks inside a general hospital in Seoul on Monday. [YONHAP]

Regarding the revelation on Monday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo criticized the plaintiffs' action, adding that their exposé “intends to interfere with the fair ruling by stirring up public sentiment and pressuring the judiciary.”

During a meeting at Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters on the same day, Han said the medical recruitment expansion is based on “multiple studies that concluded that the country will need an additional 10,000 doctors by 2035.” He said all the studies used “scientific methodology.”

Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said the attention should not focus on “the number 2,000 itself” during a press briefing on the same day.

He said the predicted doctor staffing shortage was evidence in and of itself and helped the government conclude that 2,000 seats should be added annually for five years.

The government scheme is to supply sufficient doctors by 2035 by admitting 2,000 additional students from the 2025 academic year for five years, considering the six-year-long training for doctors.

The appellate court’s ruling — which will either accept the complaint to suspend the quota hike or dismiss the plaintiffs' request — is expected to be made on Thursday or Friday.

Vice Health Minister Park said the government will appeal and seek the Supreme Court’s judgment if the appellate court decides to halt the government’s plan.

Park said the Health Ministry will “transparently” share all meeting records and reports “once the legal proceedings are fully resolved.” He added that the government’s current attitude of keeping the materials private is to ensure “a fair legal judgment.”

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]