The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Wed, June 29, 2022 | 21:43
Shortage of doctors expected next year
Posted : 2020-11-10 16:21
Updated : 2020-11-10 18:07
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Students enter the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute in eastern Seoul to take the practical skills test section of the national medical license exam in this Sept. 8 photo. / Korea Times file
Students enter the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute in eastern Seoul to take the practical skills test section of the national medical license exam in this Sept. 8 photo. / Korea Times file

By Lee Hyo-jin

Concerns are growing over a possible shortage of new doctors next year after approximately 86 percent of eligible medical students refused to take the state-run medical licensing exam which ended Tuesday.

Over 2,700 of the total 3,172 final-year students did not participate in the practical skills test which was conducted for two months from Sept. 8, according to medical organizations.

The students refused to apply for the licensing exam in August to protest the government's medical workforce reform plans. They chose to boycott the exam even after the health authorities had postponed it by one week and extended the registration deadline.

Another 446 students who took the test will be allowed to take a written test scheduled for Jan. 7 and 8 next year, and those who pass will receive their licenses to practice medicine.

The absence of the majority of the potential test-takers for the annual exam has led to concerns that next year the country might experience a shortage of qualified medical personnel including interns at general hospitals, public health clinics and military facilities.

Although the students announced their intent to end their collective action in late September, the government remained firm on not accepting late applications, citing negative public opinion and fairness.

A petition posted on Cheong Wa Dae's website calling on the authorities not to give the students a second chance gained more than 570,000 signatures in October. Those who signed it agreed that the students should take responsibility for their "reckless and selfish" behavior.

Meanwhile, medical organizations have been urging the authorities to allow the students to apply for the exam.

"The students deserve another chance to take the exam not for their personal sake, but in order to ensure the stability of the country's medical system and public safety," read a statement issued by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), the country's largest doctors' organization with more than 130,000 members.

Earlier in October, directors of several major general hospitals also jointly issued a public apology on behalf of the students and asked for them to be given a second chance, voicing deep concerns that the country might suffer a shortage of personnel amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

The students' boycott took place in August as part of the medical community's protest against the government's plan to increase the medical student quota by 4,000 over the next 10 years by establishing public medical schools.

Licensed doctors launched nationwide strikes for several weeks. They finally returned to work after reaching a settlement with the government Sept. 4. The two sides agreed to review the reform plans from square one, but the dispute over the licensing exam remains unresolved.


Emaillhj@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
LG
  • McDonald's, Burger King, KFC face bleak prospects of selling Korean units
  • Missing family's car discovered underwater in Wando
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000 [PHOTOS]
  • Finance chief calls for corporate restraint on 'excessive' wage increases amid inflation woes
  • Korea on track to cut dependency on China for rare earths
  • Young chief drastically transforms LG over 4 years
  • NongHyup Bank expands Dokdo-themed metaverse platform
  • 3 out of 10 adults still live with parents: report
  • Yoon arrives in Spain for NATO summit
  • Salesforce to launch cloud-based Hyperforce service in Korea
  • Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin expecting their first baby Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin expecting their first baby
  • 'Money Heist: Korea' director says he expected mixed reviews 'Money Heist: Korea' director says he expected mixed reviews
  • BTS member V visits Paris after K-pop boyband suspends group activities BTS member V visits Paris after K-pop boyband suspends group activities
  • Lee Jung-eun to join season 2 of mystery series 'Missing' Lee Jung-eun to join season 2 of mystery series 'Missing'
  • [INTERVIEW] With unusual nicknames and backgrounds, MIRAE eyes becoming next big K-pop star [INTERVIEW] With unusual nicknames and backgrounds, MIRAE eyes becoming next big K-pop star
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000 [PHOTOS]

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000 [PHOTOS]

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group