Government Urges Withdrawal of Emergency Room Strike Amid Resident Doctors' Strike Notice

President Choi Dae-jip of the Medical Association holds a press conference opposing the expansion of medical school quotas in front of the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government has appealed to the Korean Intern Resident Association (Daejeonhyeop), which has announced a full strike (mass sick leave) on the 7th in protest against the policy to expand medical school quotas, to withdraw the strike only in essential medical fields such as emergency rooms and intensive care units.

On the 4th, Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), said at a COVID-19 situation briefing, "Removing medical services from essential areas such as emergency rooms or intensive care units could cause unexpected harm to the public, so it must be carefully considered."

Daejeonhyeop stated that the government's plan to expand medical school quotas would exacerbate distortions in the medical system and announced a full strike on the 7th, including all essential personnel in intensive care units, maternity wards, surgeries, dialysis rooms, and emergency rooms. Initially, they said departments responsible for essential maintenance duties would be excluded from collective action, but they changed their stance, raising concerns about the significant impact on medical sites.

Son said, "We will meet with the interns and residents today or tomorrow to explore whether there are mutually agreeable points or reasonable alternatives through dialogue." He added, "Considering the increasing public harm amid flood damage and the COVID-19 pandemic, I repeatedly urge them to carefully reconsider at least the essential medical services."

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has also announced a general strike scheduled for the 14th. Son stated, "Together with the Hospital Association, we are working on securing substitute personnel for essential medical fields," and added, "Surgery schedules can be adjusted, so we are discussing measures for each hospital to respond by focusing on rescheduling."

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