President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with senior aides held at the presidential office in Seoul on July 3, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 3 (Korea Bizwire) — President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for sufficient dialogue with trainee doctors to help resolve the prolonged medical impasse.
Lee gave the instruction to his senior aides as thousands of trainee doctors have left their jobs since February last year in protest against the government’s medical reform.
“Regarding the medical crisis, which I consider the most difficult issue, I want you to explore all possible solutions,” Lee said.
He emphasized the need to approach the issue from a long-term perspective, focusing on reforms that prioritize public health.
“This issue should not be approached from the perspective of serving the interests of a particular individual or organization, but rather from the standpoint of determining what kind of medical system is most desirable for protecting the health rights of the public,” he said.
Since February last year, thousands of trainee doctors have walked off their jobs, and many medical students have boycotted classes in protest of the government’s decision to increase medical school enrollment by 2,000 starting this year.
While the government later reversed course and decided to return the 2026 quota to the original level of approximately 3,000, many trainee doctors and medical students have not yet fully returned to hospitals and schools.
(Yonhap)
