Residents to Begin Indefinite Strike from 21st... Sequential Work Stoppage by Year of Training

On the 7th, residents participated in the "National Doctors' General Strike Rally Against the Promotion of the Four Major Medical Evils Policy" held near Yeouido Park in Seoul, urging opposition to the expansion of medical school quotas. Photo by Jang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Residents training at university hospitals have warned that they will begin an indefinite work stoppage starting from the 21st of this month in opposition to government medical policies such as the expansion of medical school quotas.

According to the medical community on the 16th, the Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Intern and Resident Association has prepared a third collective action roadmap with this content and is preparing a statement.

This third collective action is scheduled to proceed sequentially according to the residents' year of training from the 21st to the 23rd. Domestic resident training consists of a total of 5 years, including 1 year as an intern and 4 years as a resident.

First, on the 21st of this month, interns and fourth-year residents will begin the work stoppage, followed by third-year residents on the 22nd, and first- and second-year residents on the 23rd. In other words, on the 23rd, all residents will stop all work. The work stoppage is indefinite from the start date. The Korean Intern and Resident Association is also reportedly discussing submitting resignation letters and refusing the specialist exam.

Residents, including interns and residents, have been engaging in collective actions such as a group sickout on the 7th and participating in the nationwide doctors' strike led by the Korean Medical Association on the 14th. The Korean Intern and Resident Association defines the government's medical policies?including the expansion of medical school quotas, the pilot project for herbal medicine coverage, the establishment of public medical schools, and the introduction of telemedicine (non-face-to-face treatment)?as the "four great evils" and is urging a reconsideration.

Residents are responsible for various tasks such as assisting professors with surgeries and treatments and checking the condition of hospitalized patients at tertiary general hospitals like university hospitals, so if the work stoppage is prolonged, it is expected to have considerable repercussions. During the 2000 medical separation incident, residents conducted a long-term strike lasting over four months, causing significant disruptions to patient care at tertiary general hospitals.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.