Residents "Reevaluate All Policies from the Beginning"... Launch of Young Doctors' Emergency Committee

Urging Withdrawal of Government Healthcare Policy... Direct Explanation Amid Worsening Public Sentiment

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] The Emergency Committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association held a press conference at 11 a.m. on the 1st at the Seoul Medical Association, urging the government to withdraw its medical policies. Following a letter sent the previous day to President Moon Jae-in requesting "a complete re-examination of all policies from the beginning," they held the press conference on the 12th day of the strike to directly explain the background of the strike. Some speculate that the interns and residents have taken to public opinion campaigns due to feeling the burden of worsening public sentiment.

Park Ji-hyun, chairperson of the Emergency Committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association, emphasized the inevitability of the strike, stating, "Young doctors want to return to the clinical field more than anyone else. We ask for the withdrawal of unreasonable and unfair medical policies that are being hastily pushed forward without any consultation with the medical community." Park also argued, "Expanding medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools cannot solve the avoidance of essential medical specialties by doctors," adding, "The issue of avoidance should be resolved by normalizing medical fees."

On this day, the Emergency Committee officially launched the 'Young Doctors Emergency Committee' in solidarity with fellows and medical students, announcing plans to respond to the government in alliance with young doctors. They also expressed willingness to participate in public debates with the government regarding the expansion of medical school quotas and related issues at any time.

◆ Appears to directly address worsening public sentiment = The press conference by the Korean Intern Resident Association drew attention early as it followed the government's decision the previous day to postpone the practical exam of the national medical licensing exam by one week. This postponement could be interpreted as a concession by the government, raising expectations that the interns and residents might soften their hardline stance. However, the interns and residents reiterated their demand for the withdrawal of the medical policies they have opposed, indicating that the conflict with the government is likely to continue for the time being.

It remains uncertain whether President Moon Jae-in, who had previously ordered a 'strict response,' urging resolution of the strike situation, will be a variable. On the 31st, at a senior secretaries and aides meeting held at the Blue House, President Moon said, "There has never been a time when doctors were more needed by the public," urging a resolution to the doctors' strike. The Emergency Committee issued a statement titled 'A sincere request to the President,' asking for an end to the oppression of interns and residents. Formally, this can be seen as an indirect dialogue between President Moon and the interns and residents.

◆ 'All possibilities' VS 'Re-examination from the beginning' = Some view the conflict between the government and the interns and residents as stemming from the wording of negotiations. The government maintains a stance of "keeping all possibilities open for consultation," while the interns and residents insist that "re-examination from the beginning" must be included. Although it is possible to interpret that both "all possibilities" and "re-examination from the beginning" are included, the interns and residents, who do not trust the government, want clearer expressions, resulting in both sides walking parallel paths without agreement.

If the indefinite strike continues amid the COVID-19 crisis, a medical vacuum is inevitable. As core hospital personnel such as interns and fellows massively withdraw, large hospitals in Seoul are urgently adjusting surgery and outpatient schedules, and the medical system is not operating normally. Inside and outside the medical community, there is an emphasis on the need for a swift agreement, warning that if the conflict between the medical community and the government is not resolved within this month, it will be difficult to support medical students. If medical students cannot take exams and no new doctors are produced, there will be immediate disruptions in medical personnel supply. Although medical students can obtain medical licenses next year even if they do not take the exam this year, hospitals will face difficulties in recruiting interns and residents, inevitably causing a medical vacuum.

On this day, a Ministry of Health and Welfare official stated, "There are no plans to discuss consultations with the medical community, including the Korean Intern Resident Association, until this morning," adding, "It is regrettable that despite several opportunities to reach an agreement, the decision was made to continue the strike without seizing those chances."

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