Resident Complaints Lead to Consecutive Statements from Medical Professors... Medical-Political Conflict Intensifies (Comprehensive)

Kim Hyun-sook, Director of Medical Resource Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare (left), is entering the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the morning of the 28th to submit a complaint against residents violating the work commencement order.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] As the government took legal action against residents who disobeyed the work commencement order, the medical community pulled out the "indefinite general strike" card, intensifying the standoff between the medical and government sectors. Furthermore, upon hearing that the government had filed charges against the residents, medical school professors issued successive statements opposing the move, deepening the conflict.

According to the Korean Medical Association (KMA) on the 29th, medical school professors nationwide have recently issued supportive statements one after another, actively defending the claims of young doctors and urging the government to immediately stop its outrageous actions, accusing it of worsening the situation through unjust exercise of public authority.

Medical School Professors Issue Successive Statements Against Resident Prosecution

Medical schools including Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, and Gachon University College of Medicine called on the government to reconsider its policies from scratch and declared they would not stand idly by if their students suffer disadvantages. Some professors even hinted at collective actions such as group sickouts.

At Korea University College of Medicine, an internal survey showed that 97.6% of professors would submit resignation letters and participate in opposition statements if residents were punished. At Yonsei University College of Medicine, discussions on collective actions are underway internally, based on the judgment that they cannot allow harm to come to their students, including residents.

Professors at the Catholic University College of Medicine urged in a statement, "Withdraw the unjust administrative measures currently imposed on doctors or medical students and completely scrap any plans for additional administrative actions."

Clinical professors at Seoul National University Hospital appealed to the public the day before, saying, "Please prevent young doctors from being cornered, which would cause a serious medical vacuum," and expressed concern that "prosecuting residents will drive residents and students to collective resignation and refusal to take the national medical licensing exam, paralyzing the national medical system."

The KMA announced that, as supportive statements from professors continue, the entire medical community will unite to protect young doctors. Kim Dae-ha, KMA Director of Public Relations and spokesperson, said, "The government's hardline stance is angering even scholars," and urged, "We call on the government to adopt a more progressive attitude and engage in dialogue."

Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association (center), is speaking at a press conference held on the afternoon of the 28th at the temporary Korean Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Medical Community: "Indefinite General Strike Starting September 7"... Government Issues Work Commencement Orders to 278 Residents and Fellows

After the government criminally charged 10 residents from three hospitals who did not return to the emergency room despite the work commencement order issued the previous day, the medical community immediately reacted. KMA President Choi Dae-jip officially announced, "If the government does not withdraw its policy, we will launch an indefinite general strike starting September 7." Separately, residents are expected to continue the indefinite strike that began on the 21st.

On the same day, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters issued additional work commencement orders to 278 individuals participating in the group sickout at 20 training hospitals nationwide, based on the results of an on-site investigation conducted the previous day. The conflict between the medical community and the government is likely to become a prolonged battle.

Patient organizations, including the Korea Leukemia Patient Association, held a press conference, stating, "Due to doctors' collective actions, emergency patients are dying, and surgeries and treatments for critically ill patients are being delayed, causing ongoing harm to patients in life-threatening conditions," and urged, "Doctors must immediately stop collective actions that threaten patients' health and lives and promptly return to treatment sites."

They also strongly urged, "Immediately halt the escalating confrontation between the government and doctors and normalize patient care first," and demanded, "The government should promote related policies such as expanding medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools through a social public discourse process."

Both the medical community and the government have not ruled out the possibility of dialogue. President Choi said, "If the government proposes (dialogue), we will negotiate sincerely." Kim Kang-lip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, also stated, "Efforts to engage in dialogue with the Korean Medical Association, the Korean Intern and Resident Association, and others are ongoing," adding, "We are continuing communication efforts through various unofficial channels as well."

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