The government had proposed halving the admission fees in colleges, which sparked protests from resident doctors who are specializing and created various inconveniences in hospitals. For his part, after the electoral defeat, President Yoon invited Lee, the opposition leader, to hold a meeting for the first time.
Seoul (/Agencies) – The possibility of a compromise is opening up in the harsh conflict between resident doctors in specialties, who have been on strike for two months in South Korea. The Seoul government has accepted the request made by the presidents of six national universities for greater flexibility in increasing places for new students.
The six universities, all located outside the capital, have suggested halving their quota in the government's plan to add 2,000 admissions to medical schools from 2025, sparking protests from the current 13,000 residents. in various specialties. During a press conference, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (who resigned after the defeat of the conservative party in the elections a few weeks ago) declared that he accepted this proposal in order to overcome the impasse, considering that all procedures and surgeries were suspended since February 20 in the country's main hospitals. “The government cannot afford to ignore the damage caused by the medical vacuum,” Han said, adding that universities must decide on increasing places before the end of the month.
The opening is part of the post-electoral climate, in which another significant initiative was also witnessed yesterday: President Yoon Suk Yeol called the leader of the Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung – the main figure of the opposition, whom he defeated by a handful of votes in the 2022 presidential elections – to propose a meeting next week. Lee thanked Yoon for the invitation.
If it comes to fruition, the meeting between Yoon and Lee will be the first of its kind since the president took office in May 2022. Lee had repeatedly asked for an interview with the president, but until now Yoon had been reluctant. However, in the current circumstances it is much more necessary to cooperate with the opposition after it, led by the PD, has obtained a landslide victory in the general elections, securing 192 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly, compared to 108. of the ruling People Power Party.
