Korea is facing an existential crisis as doctors are going on a strike indefinitely.

the Korean medical system has been heralded as being one of the most low-cost and effective in the world–most clinics and hospital have short waiting times, and the long withstanding nationwide healthcare system makes most treatments affordable to all. However, the medical system has also been criticized to overwork doctors and medical professionals to maintain cheap costs, and the preference to work near the metropolitan areas resulted in many rural clinics suffering a shortage in doctors even offering 2 to 3 times the average doctor salary. While the government has called for reform, the specifics of the proposal has resulted in a nationwide divide.

Increase in Medical School Enrollment

The issue at contest is the increase in total medical school enrollment. The Korean government has announced that it will increase enrollment by 2,000 students – almost doubling the current enrolled population of 3,058. The government bases that number on studies conducted by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, which estimates that, in order to avoid a shortage of doctors by 2035, it is necessary for an immediate increase in the medical student population.

While an augmentation seems necessary, the plausibility of such an abrupt increase in the medical school population is the plan’s Achilles’ heel. Besides the announcement, the government has not detailed how medical schools will source the additional necessities such as lecture halls, professors, and medical cadavers for the increase in medical student population. Although the government has stated that these “can be sufficiently sourced if everybody comes together to solve it,” it is implausible that schools will be able to double the number of medical professors and cadaver donations in less than a year when there is a shortage of both even now.

Not to mention that the increase in medical school population will attract college graduates that work in scientific fields, as being a doctor in Korea is undoubtedly one of the most lucrative occupations one can have, which would lead to a decrease in the already low-paying, talent-deprived science fields. medical schools are highly regarded in Korea, with a majority of students choosing to enroll in whichever medical school they are accepted into over the nation’s top universities. Of course, the increase in medical school enrollment is not the only reason that doctors are going on strike – the essential health care package, which significantly alters the Korean medical compensation system, is also another reason for the strikes.

Based on statistics provided by the government, an increase in medical school enrollment seems necessary; however, the current solution provided by the government is too risky to be implemented. Korea is already decreasing in population due to low birth rates, and while the demand for doctors might increase due to the increasing elderly populations, the worst case scenario would be that Korea has too many doctors than it needs, leading to a unsolvable medical crisis in the near future.

Even so, it is undeniable that the indefinite strike of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) is threatening, as they are essentially keeping the entire Korean population hostage. If the strike continues, and patients are left in critical conditions, the result would be a Pyrrhic victory–doctors will lose all public support and be perceived as the public enemy, regardless of the outcome.