Seoul — President Yoon Suk Yeol has postponed a planned dinner with leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) until after the upcoming Chuseok holiday, due to unresolved issues regarding proposed increases to medical school quotas.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to delay the dinner, which was originally scheduled for Friday with PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and other top party officials, was made to focus on addressing immediate public concerns over people's livelihoods rather than convening a high-profile gathering. "Ahead of Chuseok, the priority is to show how we are contemplating solutions to people's livelihood issues, rather than showing the party and the government gathering for a meal," the official explained to reporters.

The postponement arises amid a disagreement between the presidential office and PPP leader Han over the timing of the proposed medical school quota increases. The government has been steadfast in its plan to increase admissions by 2,000 seats annually over the next five years, a proposal meant to address long-term healthcare needs. However, Han has suggested deferring the 2026 quota increase by one year to alleviate immediate pressures on medical schools, which are also dealing with about 3,000 students needing to retake classes next year.

Despite Han’s public proposal on Facebook to delay the increase, the presidential office maintains that any postponement would disrupt college entrance procedures and create significant uncertainty. "The 2026 quota was allocated across universities and announced at the end of April," the official stated, highlighting the preparations already underway by students and parents.

Additionally, concerns about potential disruptions to healthcare services during the Chuseok holiday, exacerbated by an ongoing protest by trainee doctors, have been addressed by the government's commitment to emergency-only operations in hospitals during the holiday, aiming to mitigate any impact on public health services.