South Korea's Yoon urges doctors to end impasse over trainees

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Monday his government is open to talks with doctors who oppose his plan to increase medical school admissions.

In a 50-minute address to the country, Yoon signaled his willingness for the first time to seek a compromise on his medical reform proposals after the government called for dialogue with striking doctors. Yoon apologized for the inconvenience caused by the ongoing strike by trainee doctors but accused the medical sector of putting their own interests ahead of public health.

More than 90 percent of the country's trainee doctors have been staging walkouts since February 20 in protest against the government's plan to boost medical school admissions by 2,000, starting in 2025 from 3,000 now.