Government "Expansion of Work Commencement Orders" vs Residents "Strike Continues" (Comprehensive)

Government "Must Return to Clinical Practice"... Residents "Medical School Quota Expansion and Other Issues Should Be Discussed from the Start"

On the 30th, a doctor is holding a solo protest urging opposition to the government's medical policy at Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno-gu, Seoul, as the Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Intern Doctors Association decided to continue the collective strike. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy reporters Seo So-jeong and Cho Hyun-ui] As the medical community continues an indefinite strike opposing the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools, the government has decided to issue work commencement orders to residents and fellows who have collectively stopped working at 10 non-metropolitan training hospitals starting from the 31st. In response, voices within the medical community, mainly from residents and fellows, continue to push for the strike to persist, leading to a standoff between the two sides.

However, attention is also focused on how the government's decision to postpone the practical exam of the medical licensing examination, originally scheduled for tomorrow (September 1), by one week in response to the medical community's stance will affect negotiations between the two sides.

◆ "Work Commencement Orders Issued for 10 Non-Metropolitan Training Hospitals" = Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at a regular briefing held at the government complex in Sejong that "Starting from the 31st, a third on-site investigation will be conducted on the emergency rooms and intensive care units of 10 non-metropolitan training hospitals, and work commencement orders will be issued to residents and fellows who have entered collective leave."

The government previously conducted a first on-site investigation of 20 metropolitan training hospitals on the 26th and 27th, followed by a second investigation from the 28th on 20 hospitals, including 10 metropolitan and 10 non-metropolitan hospitals, to check the status of residents' and fellows' work stoppages and to determine their return. The government issued work commencement orders to 278 residents and fellows and reported 10 residents who did not comply to the police.

If one fails to comply with the work commencement order without justifiable reason, they may face license suspension or imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. For medical personnel, receiving a prison sentence or higher for violating the Medical Service Act is recognized as a disqualification reason, which can lead to license revocation.

Yoon requested, "Since emergency rooms and intensive care units treat critically ill patients, please consider your duty as medical professionals and return promptly regardless of whether the government's forced administrative measures are implemented."

◆ Government Postpones Medical Licensing Practical Exam by One Week = As the government issues additional work commencement orders to residents and fellows who have entered collective leave, opposition from residents is intensifying. The Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association stated, "The government should return to the starting point or conduct a full re-discussion regarding the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools," strongly urging a return to the original point for renegotiation rather than a vague agreement to 'keep all possibilities open.'

However, the government abruptly announced in the afternoon that it would postpone the practical exam of the 85th Medical Licensing Examination for 2021 by one week, just one day before the scheduled start. Initially, the government planned to proceed with the practical exam on the 1st as scheduled. Although the Korea Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC) repeatedly urged postponement due to the spread of COVID-19, the government maintained until the morning that the exam would proceed as planned.

According to the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute, as of the 28th, about 89% (2,823 out of 3,172) of the total examinees canceled their applications. If the government proceeds with the medical licensing exam as scheduled, the mass cancellations could lead to a shortage of medical personnel and a medical service gap next year.

Considering this situation, the government made a concession. In an online briefing related to the response to residents' collective refusal to provide medical services, Kim Kang-lip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said, "To minimize the damage to medical students, the practical exam of the medical licensing examination, originally scheduled for the 1st of next month, will be postponed by one week and held from the 8th."

Vice Minister Kim explained, "There was insufficient time to accurately confirm the intention to cancel the exam, raising concerns about unnecessary harm to the futures of many students. Additionally, if such problems occur, it could affect hospitals' medical capabilities and the public's access to medical services."

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