Medical School Admissions: Professors in South Korea to file constitutional petition
Seoul: Medical professors in South Korea are preparing to challenge the government's decision to increase medical school admissions, citing concerns over their constitutional rights. The move comes amid ongoing disruptions to the country's medical services, triggered by a plan to add 2,000 new medical students next year to alleviate a shortage of doctors.
The Medical Professors Association of Korea is scheduled to file the petition with the Constitutional Court before the April 10 general elections against the government's plan to raise the number of medical students by 2,000 starting next year from the current 3,058 seats to address a shortage of doctors, Yonhap news agency reported.
The plan has caused a massive walkout by junior doctors since February 20, as well as major disruptions to the country's medical service.
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Despite earlier attempts by the professors' association to challenge the government's plan through the Seoul Administration Court, their case was dismissed without deliberation. Consequently, they now seek recourse with the Constitutional Court, arguing that the government's decision infringes upon their autonomy of education and other fundamental rights.
According to an IANS report, "The government's exercise of authority to raise the admissions by 2,000 violates the basic rights of professors, including their autonomy of education," a lawyer of the group said.
"Following the dismissal, we cannot expect any redemption of our rights by lower courts so we are entitled to bring the case to the Constitutional Court. We will file the petition before the elections next week," he added.
In addition to the constitutional appeal, the association plans to seek a court injunction this month, preempting the government's release of detailed entrance requirements for next year's college admissions.
Meanwhile, the government is determined to accomplish medical reform, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said on Friday.
He made the remarks at a government response meeting, a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol met a leader of a group of trainee doctors, Yonhap reported.
"The government is determined to accomplish medical reform in a flexible, inclusive, but unwavering manner that upholds principles," Park said.
Park also called for trainee doctors to end their walkout and continue talks with the government over medical reform.
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