Government: "Work Commencement Orders Expanded Nationwide... 10 Non-compliers Criminally Prosecuted" (Update)

Kim Gang-rip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The government has decided to file criminal charges against 10 individuals who defied the work commencement order and proceeded with a collective strike.

On the 28th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held a briefing at the Seoul Government Complex regarding the collective action by medical organizations. After confirming the compliance with the work commencement order issued the previous day, it was announced that a complaint would be submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency this morning against the 10 individuals who did not return to work.

The Ministry also decided to expand the work commencement order issued on the 26th to residents and fellows from the metropolitan area to nationwide. A focused on-site investigation will be conducted at 30 training hospitals (20 outside the metropolitan area and 10 within) to verify work attendance and to check compliance with individual work commencement orders.

Individual work commencement orders have been issued to 358 residents who were absent from emergency rooms and intensive care units in 20 hospitals. Kim Kang-rip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, "This is an unavoidable measure that had to be taken to protect patients' lives and safety during the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) crisis." He emphasized, "To secure COVID-19 treatment beds and personnel and to operate an effective infectious disease treatment system, residents and fellows must remain at the treatment sites."

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