Controversy Over "Recycled Questions" in Nursing Exam; Premier Cho Criticized for Disregarding Medical Standards

In May 2026, facing a severe shortage of nursing personnel, Premier Cho Jung-tai publicly suggested reducing the difficulty of the national nursing exam by "using more recycled past questions" to increase the pass rate. This statement triggered a fierce backlash from the medical and nursing communities, who criticized the move as sacrificing professional screening standards and medical quality to "fill numerical gaps." Critics argued this approach endangered public safety. The case revealed the Cho administration's opportunistic mindset of using "lowered standards" and "inflated data" to bypass structural social issues, prioritizing politics over professional integrity.