Government "Will Take Legal Action Against Resident Doctors' Collective Strike"... Indicates Strong Response

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] On the third day of the doctors' general strike on the 28th, the government decided to refile charges against residents who have launched an indefinite collective sickout in protest of the expansion of medical school quotas.

Although Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo held a meeting with major university hospital directors the previous day and decided to 'postpone prosecution,' the government resumed prosecutions on the morning of the 28th, shifting to a hardline stance, continuing the standoff between the medical community and the government.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced at a joint briefing with the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency at 10 a.m. that "as of 10 a.m. on the 28th, the order to resume work for residents and fellows will be expanded from the metropolitan area to nationwide," and ordered "residents and fellows on strike to immediately return to patient care duties."

Despite issuing a focused on-site investigation order for 30 training hospitals along with the work resumption order, the ministry also plans to verify compliance after individual work resumption orders. A ministry official stated, "It is inevitable to expand the work resumption order to non-metropolitan areas to protect the lives and safety of the public."

They added, "This decision was made based on the judgment that the collective sickout, enforced amid a severe crisis where confirmed COVID-19 cases exceed 100 outside the metropolitan area and a nationwide large-scale outbreak is highly concerning, could pose a serious and direct risk to the lives and safety of patients."

On the same day, the Ministry of Justice stated, "Even if residents submit collective resignation letters as part of collective action to withdraw government policies, lawful work resumption orders can be issued," and warned, "Those who refuse may be punished under the Medical Service Act."

The National Police Agency also said, "We will firmly respond according to law and principles to all illegal acts related to the doctors' collective sickout, including violation of work resumption orders, obstruction or interference with colleagues' return to work, and spreading fake news," and added, "Upon receiving related complaints from health authorities, we will investigate as quickly as possible and strictly enforce judicial measures."

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