Shortening med school courses not a must: Minister

Amid the debate around shortening the medical school curriculum from six to five years, the education minister stated Tuesday that the proposal is an emergency measure and that universities will not be forced to comply.

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly that the proposal was a measure to ensure there are enough medical professionals in the future to meet the country's health care needs.

"(We) will not force medical schools. If universities decide to proceed with the plan, the government will assist schools to ensure the quality of education," Lee told lawmakers.

Asked if the plan was discussed with the medical community, Lee said his ministry came up with the plan after gathering various opinions.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said during a parliamentary audit the day before that he was "open to the idea" if it does not lower the quality of education.

The Education Ministry floated the idea on Sunday to normalize education at medical schools. The ministry said it would shorten the curriculum so that striking medical students on leave could become doctors "in due time."

The measure, however, was met with heavy backlash from doctors. They argue it goes against equipping future doctors with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with human lives.

"Students will have to retake the course. It seems like the government doesn't know what medical education is," Kang Hee-gyung, a medical professor specializing in pediatric kidney transplantation at Seoul National University Hospital, told The Korea Herald.

Park Dan, who heads the emergency committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association, said the Education Minister is "leading the way in undermining the quality of medical education."

Five medical associations -- including the Korean Medical Association, Medical Professors of Korea and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges -- issued a joint statement late Monday that the measure is a "poorly thought-out solution to forcefully fit the academic calendar."

"Education at medical schools now is already abnormal, but (the government) is implementing policies that will worsen the quality of education."