"Government Changes Stance from 'Strict Action' Against Non-returning Residents to 'Withdrawal of Charges' (Comprehensive)"

"Efforts by Reporting Residents to Resolve Issues... No One Should Get Hurt"
Government Withdraws Charges One Week After Filing
No Punishment Despite Legal Violations

Kim Hyun-sook, Director of the Medical Resources Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is submitting a complaint against residents who violated the order to commence work on the morning of the 28th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government withdrew its complaint against the resident doctors it had accused of violating the work commencement order just one week after filing it. Since they have agreed to return to the medical field, the government decided to treat the matter as if it never happened. However, this puts the government in a position of contradicting itself, as it had previously vowed a strict investigation due to the strong suspicion of legal violations at the time of the complaint.

On the 4th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare released a statement saying, "We are withdrawing the complaints against six resident doctors who were reported last month for failing to comply with the work commencement order." Taking into account the Korean Medical Association's decision to end the collective strike and return to the frontlines, the ministry added, "This agreement is an inclusive decision made to put aside past conflicts and prioritize the lives and safety of the public."

A few hours before the withdrawal of the complaint, at a briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, Kim Heon-ju, Director of Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "Regarding the complaint, we will comprehensively consider the consultations between the ruling party and the Medical Association this morning, as well as statements from the party leader and Medical Association President Choi Dae-jip." He added, "We will take the most reasonable measures possible to promptly normalize medical services and restore mutual trust."

That morning, the Medical Association and the Democratic Party signed a policy agreement implementation memorandum. Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon said regarding the complaint against the resident doctors, "We will strive to resolve this in the best possible way." President Choi also stated, "We will request the government for the best handling plan and ensure that no one gets hurt."

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo (right) and Chairman Choi Dae-jip of the Korean Medical Association shake hands after signing an agreement on the 4th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to form a medical-government consultative body to discuss stopping the collective strike and expanding medical school quotas. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Earlier, when resident doctors' groups began collective actions such as strikes, the government issued a work commencement order on the 26th of last month to resident and fellow doctors at training hospitals in the metropolitan area. This was an action based on the Medical Service Act. After on-site investigations, the government filed complaints against 10 resident doctors who did not return to the emergency room as ordered. Among them, complaints against four were withdrawn after confirming they were either dispatched or had worked.

The government's initial issuance of the work commencement order and subsequent complaints were due to a shortage of doctors at frontline medical sites, which caused disruptions in medical care and surgeries, resulting in patient harm. Given the clear legal violations, the police also pledged to begin investigations as soon as the complaints were received and to strictly enforce judicial measures.

Residents affiliated with Seoul National University Hospital are protesting in front of the Government Seoul Office on the 4th against the government and the Medical Association's opposition to the agreement related to the doctors' strike. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The previously confrontational standoff between the medical community and the government over medical policy, which was the root cause of the conflict, has now changed completely, with plans to negotiate going forward. However, the fact that the resident doctors accused did not comply with the work commencement order remains unchanged. Whether there were violations and any resulting penalties will depend on future police investigations and court rulings. With the government withdrawing complaints against the remaining six, the earlier complaint action inevitably appears to have been an emotional response. The previously emphasized "strict application of the law" at the time of the complaint has also become an empty statement.

The resident doctors' group is still at odds with the Medical Association, so it is not yet clear whether they will actually return to the frontline medical sites. The Korean Intern Resident Association issued a statement that day, officially raising procedural issues with President Choi Dae-jip's unilateral negotiation process and questioning the agreement among the ruling party, the Medical Association, and the government. They added, "The agreement does not mention protection for resident doctors or medical students," emphasizing, "We cannot stop collective actions while even a single resident doctor or medical student is harmed." They did not specify their position on returning to work.

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