참고: 많은 의대생분들과 대화를 나눈 후 생각이 바뀌긴 했지만, 그럼에도 불구하고 이 글을 올리는 이유는 2가지입니다:
(1) 내가 한 말을 철회하고 없던 일로 만드는 것은 무책임한 행동이라고 판단했기 때문이고,
(2) 핵심 메시지 '결국 결과를 책임질 용기를 가진 사람만이 분야에 남아한다' 는 변하지 않기 때문입니다.
NOTE: After having conversations with the medical students, my thoughts have changed. However, I am still going to post this because of 2 reasons:
(1) I believe that taking back what I said and pretending it never happened would be an irresponsible act, and
(2) The core message remains unchanged: 'only those who have courage to take responsibility should be left in the field'.
Sad to say, but South Korea, my home country, is now full of cowards. No one can pinpoint exactly why this happened—whether it stems from overprotective parenting that has left children fragile, or from economic uncertainties that have made people obsessed with comfort and stability. What I can tell you for certain is this: the country is full of cowards.
One illustrative example is the overwhelming preference for medical schools among so-called "intellectuals." This trend is siphoning off many of the nation’s brightest minds, pushing them into careers that often create little value beyond superficial procedures like removing facial hair. And yet, society praises them simply for being “smart.”
I used to think intelligence was the most important—for the well-being of families, the prosperity of nations, and the advancement of humanity. For example, I believed that elites with high intelligence should govern society for a better future. But now I understand that intelligence isn't the crucial factor; courage is what truly matters. Only the brave can create real value and drive progress for nations and humanity at large. We should not artificially control the supply and demand of healthcare or provide unwarranted privileges to these so-called “golden boys,” the so-called intelligentsia who excel at conforming to rules and deferring to authority. Medical and law schools are prime examples of this phenomenon.
I don’t mean to disparage medical professionals as a whole, but I believe that majority of them are redundant. Medicine, in my view, should focus primarily on urgent and life-threatening situations where the risks of intervention (iatrogenics and side effects) are outweighed by the need to save lives. Beyond that, medical intervention should be minimized. There are far too many doctors involved in trivial tasks like waxing pubic hair or overprescribing antibiotics for minor illnesses. Whether this stems from market dynamics or government subsidies, the result is an oversaturation of mostly unnecessary practitioners.
The real problem is the lack of courage in the medical field. Many practitioners avoid risks while reaping the financial rewards of their profession. This explains why frivolous fields like dermatology (excluding a few) thrive, while critical areas like emergency medicine and thoracic surgery face shortages. It also explains why the medical profession attracts opportunists (*)
I also lament how many truly talented individuals are stifled by a system that demands conformity. It’s heartbreaking to see my closest friends—people with real potential—choosing medical school only to end up stuck in mediocrity.
Government subsidies and regulations should focus on essential medical services—those that decide between life and death or provide relief from chronic suffering. Support should be channeled into these areas, not into redundant specialties.
Moreover, we need to end the overprotection of doctors. Only those with courage—the willingness to accept the risks and burdens of saving lives—should thrive. By removing excessive government protections, we can foster a profession filled with individuals driven by a true sense of duty. While this may temporarily reduce the number of doctors, it will, in the long run, ensure that only the brave and committed pursue the profession, ultimately leading to a healthier population.
(*) Originally, I commented '소위 의주빈': I admit this was a hasty generalization, though. Undermining trust in what should be a sacred vocation.