SEOUL: In a growing protest against the government’s plans to overhaul medical education, thousands of South Korean physicians staged a walkout on Sunday in Seoul. The walkout came amid a wave of younger doctors quitting, sending hospitals into disarray.
Roughly two weeks ago, 10,000 junior doctors resigned from their positions in protest against increases in medical school admissions starting the following year, which are intended to address shortages and an aging population.
The government gave the striking professionals until February 29 to report back to work or face legal action, which might result in arrests or the suspension of their medical licenses. However, they have chosen to remain at work. “We oppose the medical school admissions increase,” the demonstrators waved while donning black masks.
The Korea Medical Association’s Kim Taek-woo addressed the demonstrators, saying, “The government continues to push the reforms unilaterally and that the doctors are unable to comply under any circumstances.”
“The government is abusing policies to make doctors into lifelong slaves, even though it is well aware of the reasons why every doctor opposes the increase in medical school admissions.”
Hospitals have suffered because of the widespread work stoppage; many procedures and critical treatments have had to be canceled, leading the government to upgrade its public health alert to the highest level.
Approximately 50% of the planned surgeries at many large hospitals have been postponed since last week, as per the health ministry.
Doctors are not allowed to go on strike in South Korea, and the administration asked authorities to look into anyone who may be involved in the stoppage this week. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min stated on Sunday in a KBS television interview that although if the deadline for returning to work had passed, the government would still “exercise utmost leniency for trainee doctors if they return to work by the end of today.”
