In response to the South Korean government's decision to increase medical school admissions by 668 students per year, the medical community is struggling to define a cohesive response. This shift follows former aggressive stances, such as the threat of mass resignations and strikes by medical professionals when the announcement of a 2,000-student increase was initially made under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. The Korea Medical Association (KMA) has indicated a preference for negotiating a reduction in admissions, calling for an immediate establishment of a cooperative body to facilitate problem-solving in healthcare, rather than taking a combative approach against the government.

The KMA's current indecisiveness appears rooted in internal conflicts regarding responsibility for the prior policy disputes, particularly concerning the management of residents. The Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA), a key player in past negotiations, has expressed a desire to chart a separate course from the KMA’s current leadership. KIRA's vice president, Kim Eun-sik, criticized the KMA for insufficient action and for merely seeking to evade immediate crises without a substantive plan, indicating a potential split between residents and the KMA going forward.

KMA spokesperson Kim Sung-keun acknowledged the diverse opinions among medical professionals and indicated that collective voices are currently being gathered through various meetings. He described the current situation as one of confusion, emphasizing the need for time to comprehend and interpret the government's announcement before settling on a specific course of action. The KMA is actively involved with various regional medical associations to discuss the implications of the government's decision and how best to approach the unfolding circumstances within the medical field.