Residents who left patients' bedsides in protest of the medical school enrollment expansion and returned in September are expected to be able to take the specialist exam in February next year. They still have training time remaining and therefore cannot take the specialist exam early next year, but the government is reportedly considering early eligibility to prevent disruptions in the production of specialists.
According to the government and the medical community on the 28th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is discussing this plan in the training consultative body. A ministry official said, "We are reviewing early eligibility for residents at the recommendation of the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences," adding, "We plan to finalize and announce the policy soon."
After graduating from medical school and obtaining a medical license, residents undergo four to five years of specialty-specific training as interns and residents to become specialists. Training is usually done in one-year units, and those in higher years take the specialist exam at the beginning of each year. Under the existing system, residents who returned in September would have to train until August next year and therefore cannot take the February exam. In the worst case, they would have to wait until early 2027. However, the government's policy is to allow residents to take the specialist exam first early next year and continue the remaining training until August.
Residents who returned in March train until February next year and can take the specialist exam. Interns who returned in June are subject to a special measure shortening the training period, allowing them to be promoted to resident early next year, and residents can take the specialist exam on the condition of three additional months of training. However, not many residents returned in March and June; most returned in September.
Some argue that residents collectively resigning created gaps in care and that granting excessive favors is inappropriate. There is also a fairness issue with residents who returned earlier. Concerns have been raised that additional training conducted after passing the specialist exam and resident recruitment could be insufficient. In a commentary that day, the Korea Federation of Associations of Patients with Severe and Rare Diseases said, "They are turning a blind eye to proper recognition for residents who returned early to protect patients," adding, "Making a group that evaded responsibility the target of relief shakes the basics of medical ethics."