Seoul National University Professors Criticize Medical Students and Residents Over Government Policy Protests
On March 17, 2025, four professors from Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital issued a strong statement criticizing the leadership of medical students and residents who have left their posts in protest against the government's plan to increase medical school enrollment. Professors Ha Eun-jin (Critical Care Medicine), Oh Joo-hwan (International Health Policy), Han Se-won (Hematology and Oncology), and Kang Hee-kyung (Pediatrics) expressed their concerns in a four-page statement titled 'To Those Who Claim That Returning Colleagues Are No Longer Colleagues: It Is Time to Decide.' They referenced recent writings by Park Dan, the vice president of the Korean Medical Association, which criticized the professors as hypocritical and narrow-minded.
The professors stated, 'We can no longer remain silent and be complicit with the majority who choose to do so.' They expressed disappointment over the lack of accountability and respect for patients and colleagues in the comments found in medical communities and social media. They voiced their fears about the future of healthcare, saying, 'When I read the writings of my students and juniors, I wonder if I would trust them to treat my family when I am ill.'
They criticized the current protest methods, stating that there has been no roadmap or viable alternatives proposed to improve the healthcare system over the past year, only a passive resistance. They urged their colleagues to reflect on whether they are opposing the government or genuinely seeking to improve healthcare in South Korea.
The professors pointed out that while some claim to be victims of government policies, the real victims are the patients who have been neglected and unable to receive treatment during this time. They highlighted the disparity between the struggles of medical residents and those of workers in other sectors, who face job insecurity and low wages.
In their statement, they emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism and responsibility as medical practitioners, warning that continued actions that undermine the healthcare system could lead to a loss of trust from society. They concluded by urging their colleagues to make a choice: to either continue with the current destructive path or to work towards meaningful reform in the healthcare system, emphasizing the need for collaboration and humility in the profession.
