Korean-American perspective, a reply

Thank you for your reply. While I cannot see the full reply, I have tried to address the point you did bring up in short segment I was able to see.

I do realize that in Korean culture, standing up to authority figures, especially those that have power over one's grades, can have dire consequences. However, I'm not sure where you surmised that I was condemning any kind of opposition to authority. I was merely pointing out that this is a symptom, rather than a cause of the issue at hand. Of course it is unfortunate that parents feel the need and duty to interfere in their children's careers and that students feel that this is the only way to be heard. But this is not only the wrong way to treat this "symptom" as it cripples the students themselves, it also distracts us from addressing the underlying cause -- or to continue this medical analogy, the disease itself. My point was that the etiology of this symptom can be traced to the parents' and students' blindsided decision to pursue medicine.

I do not doubt that there is a high degree of abuse in the Korean medical field. However, this is more or less universal in medicine. In fact, even in the States, medicine is one of the very few professions in which hierarchy still reigns supreme; a single adverse line of feedback from an attending during your four years of medical school can ruin one's chances of matching into certain specialties. That being said, I'm certainly not denying that there are things that probably need to be changed in this field (there are many!) and that there are issues that should be brough to light (I've had them!). My argument, however, was that a better understanding of the realities of medicine from both the parents and student prior to entering medicine may mitigate this outrage. Not eliminate, but mitigate. Coupled with the other revealing points brought up by the article, it does seem appear that these perceived injustices have been conflated with a sense of entitlement from parent and student alike.

I guess I find it tragic that the supposed best and brightest of Korean students are so pressured by parents and society that they cannot find it in themselves to pursue their passions. Imagine how much more improved Korea could be if each student was doing the what they were best at, rather than what their scores told them they were technically qualified to do. It's an unfortunate problem with no real solution in the near future. But hopefully, each generation will be able to make bolder choices.

Korean-American perspective

As a Korean American medical student who is attending medical school in the States, reading the replies may have been more of a shock for me than the article itself. While the contents of the articles are discouraging to say the least, it's is even more disheartening to see replies defending the egregious actions of the parents featured here. Appalled would be putting it lightly. Such overbearing parenting only cripples rather than empower the students. What kind of message are you sending when a parent calls in to object about how his/her 30 year old adult offspring is being treated; as the student, you're being told that your parents will fight your battles for you, and as the attending, you're being told that the students will not stand up for themselves. Yes, medical school and residency are hard. Yes, your child may find parts of it unbearable. Yes, there will be days when they will run home crying. But this does not mean that there is a need to run out and reprimand every supervisor and correct every perceived slight. Ask yourself this simple question. What kind of training would you want your physician to have gone through when you're in the hospital with a heart condition? I know I would want to have the rigorously trained physician who was not coddled over the naive, dependent physician who barely knows why they're in their own specialty.

The article also brings up a critical point regarding students' motivations. Recently in Korea, students entering the medical profession have been doing so based on their stellar academic achievement rather than well-tested passion for the field itself. Medicine is a long, difficult journey that requires sacrifices not only during one's education, but also during one's life beyond school and residency. It is not a field for every student, and there is certainly no shame in admitting that there may be something better suited as a career. Entering medicine is not a decision to be made lightly by 18 year old high school seniors whose entire lives have been focused on acing their next exam. I urge prospective students to seriously examine one's investment and aptitude for a career in medicine before making their decisions.

물론

이 기사는 일부 사례일 뿐이다.
자식이 노예 목줄에 묶여있는데, 어떤 부모가 노예 주인인 교수한테 대들수 있겠는가?

이런 바람직한 현상을 이 기사는 일부만 선택적으로 골라서 좀 부정적으로 묘사한거같은데...

그 의도가 궁금하다..

그럼 교수말이 진리요. 법인 병원사회에서 , 노예인 전공의는 계속 당해야하는건가?
부모들이라도 교수들을 견제할수있으면 당연히 해야지

바람직한 현상

물론 부모들의 힘이 강해져도 부작용이 없다는건 아니다.
다만 교수가 절대적인 갑이고, 그 외 레지던트부터 학생까지 철저한 노예인 관계를 깨려면 부모힘이라도 빌려야한다.

20살 넘은 성인이라면 자기스스로 해결하라?
그렇게 해결못하게 한게 바로 교수들 자신들 아닌가?

절대적인 권력을 가지고 칼을 휘두르는데, 무슨 힘없는 일개 레지던트나 학생이 뭐라하겠는가.


갑인 교수입장에서야 부모들의 간섭이 싫겠지만.
어느 사회에서나 절대권력은 견제받아야한다.


난 지극히 옳은 현상이라고 본다. 최선책이 안되면 차선책이라도 해야지.

어머니 말 들으세요

외과의사는 전문의 수련이 힘들고 나와서 전공을 살려서 일하기도 힘들어요.어머니가 참 현명하시네요.부디 어머니 말씀 듣는게 평생후회를 면하는 길이네요.