Medical School Surge, French Revolution: Money Was the Root Cause

The intense competition to enter medical school in South Korea and the French Revolution of the 18th century both stemmed from financial issues, according to an analysis in Dong-A Ilbo. While the stated reason for aspiring to be a doctor is often to help the sick and poor, the article posits that financial security and high earning potential have become the primary drivers.

South Korea's preference for medical careers significantly increased after the 1997 IMF financial crisis. During a period when many faced unemployment, doctors maintained stable incomes. This stability, coupled with the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s that impacted engineering graduates, solidified the perception of medicine as a secure and lucrative profession. Consequently, medical school admission cutoffs, once lower than top engineering programs, now surpass them nationwide.

Examining major historical revolutions, the article notes that while the American and French Revolutions are celebrated for advancing ideals of liberty and equality, their immediate triggers were financial. The American Revolution was sparked by colonial resistance to British taxation, exemplified by the Boston Tea Party. Similarly, the French Revolution erupted from a fiscal crisis, with King Louis XVI's attempt to impose new taxes leading to conflict with the Third Estate.

Even the Magna Carta, a foundational document for modern democracy, originated from a financial dispute. King John's attempt to levy taxes on nobles led to the charter, which limited the monarch's power, particularly regarding taxation and arbitrary imprisonment. The article argues that financial motives, though often masked by nobler justifications, have consistently played a pivotal role in significant societal shifts and historical events.