Resident "I will submit a resignation letter" vs Government "Even if you submit a resignation letter, work commencement order will be enforced"

Government Conducts On-Site Inspections at 20 Hospitals in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Residents to Launch '5th Young Doctors Collective Action' on the 27th
All Emergency Medicine Residents at Sinchon Severance Submit Resignations
Government Plans to Maintain Legal Response

Residents on indefinite strike opposing the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools have taken collective action by submitting resignation letters. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Su-wan] As the Korea Medical Association (KMA) opposes the government's medical policies such as the expansion of medical school quotas and collective strikes spread from residents to private practitioners and full-time doctors, the conflict between the medical community and the government is intensifying as the government has issued work commencement orders to residents and full-time doctors.

The medical community has engaged in collective actions such as refusing to comply with the return orders and submitting resignation letters following the government's issuance of work commencement orders, but the government plans to respond firmly with legal measures.

The Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) began the "5th Young Doctors' Collective Action," which involves submitting resignation letters voluntarily, starting at 10 a.m. on the 27th.

According to KIRA, about 12,000 out of approximately 16,000 residents, accounting for about 76%, have expressed their intention to resign so far. In particular, all residents in the Emergency Medicine Department at Sinchon Severance Hospital are reported to have submitted resignation letters.

KIRA also plans to conduct the "6th Young Doctors' Collective Action," which involves turning off mobile phones for one day on the 28th. KIRA stated, "Whether we have received the work commencement order or have been notified, we will not comply," emphasizing, "If even one resident suffers damage, Korea's medical system will lose about 16,000 residents."

The government maintains that those who have submitted resignation letters are also subject to the work commencement order and plans to continue legal action. Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a regular briefing that "work commencement orders have been issued to 358 residents who are on strike in emergency rooms and intensive care units."

Earlier, at 8 a.m. on the 26th, the government issued work commencement orders to residents and full-time doctors working at training hospitals in the metropolitan area.

Under the name of Minister Park Neung-hoo of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, work commencement orders were sent to 358 strikers at about 20 large hospitals including Samsung Seoul Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Hanyang University Hospital, and Korea University Guro Hospital, stating that "as of 9 a.m. on the 27th, the presence of residents working in the emergency centers and intensive care units of each hospital will be confirmed, and administrative measures will be taken against residents who have not returned."

The government also began intensive on-site inspections from that day to verify compliance with the orders. The Ministry of Health and Welfare conducted focused on-site inspections mainly at emergency rooms and intensive care units of 20 major hospitals.

Yoon Tae-ho said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters briefing on the morning of the 27th, "Today, we will revisit the training hospitals visited yesterday to check whether residents who were on strike have returned, and if not, we plan to take legal action," adding, "Failure to comply with the work commencement order may result in imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won, and administrative measures such as license suspension or cancellation are possible."

Failure to comply with the work commencement order may result in imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. Additionally, administrative sanctions such as license suspension or cancellation are possible.

Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in, during a meeting with church leaders on the same day, said, "The collective actions of the medical community are causing anxiety and suffering to the public," and pointed out, "Medical personnel leaving the field during the COVID-19 situation is like soldiers deserting the battlefield during wartime."

President Moon continued, "Medical students are reportedly refusing to take medical exams, but doing so would cause enormous personal losses and a great burden to the nation," adding, "The government cannot help but act according to the law and principles while engaging in sincere dialogue with the medical community. The government's options are not that many."

He concluded, "I believe and expect that our medical community will never ignore the suffering the public is enduring due to COVID-19."

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