President Yoon Suk Yeol is open to adjusting the country's medical school admission quota for 2026 and would welcome the formation of a negotiating panel between rival parties, the government, and the medical community to discuss the issue, according to an official on Friday. This development raises hope for a breakthrough in the prolonged walkout by junior doctors protesting the government's decision to increase the medical school quota by 2,000 from the previous 3,058 and keep the increased quota over the next five years. Despite the disruptions in hospital services, Yoon's administration is willing to engage in frank discussions if presented with reasonable and scientific estimates, contrary to previous beliefs that they were firmly sticking to the 2,000-seat increase. Furthermore, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has urged the medical community to return to dialogue, emphasizing their willingness to discuss the medical reform issue and proposing the establishment of a joint consultative body involving rival parties, the government, and the medical community to address the ongoing shortage of medical services. The government argues that a sharp increase in medical school admissions is necessary to address the doctor shortage, while doctors express concerns about the quality of medical education and the country's medical services being compromised by such a significant increase.