Residents Say "No Return to Work"... Medical Students Refuse National Exam (Comprehensive)

Daejeon Association "Rescheduling Return to Work Timing at Resident Meeting on 7th at 1 PM"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Seo So-jeong and Jo Hyun-ui] The residents who had planned to return to medical practice on the 7th have reversed their decision and decided to continue their collective strike after facing strong opposition from some residents and medical students.

Park Ji-hyun, the emergency committee chairperson of the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), announced in an internal notice on the 6th, "We will not return tomorrow and will maintain the current status," adding, "We will hold an online meeting for all residents at 1 p.m. on the 7th." The KIRA emergency committee stated that they intend to reschedule the return to work date to after Monday to ensure all residents can participate.

◆Reversal due to fierce protests from medical students and residents= Until the afternoon of the same day, the residents had decided to end the collective strike and return to medical practice on the 7th. Chairperson Park said during a live broadcast on social media on the 6th, "The Korean Medical Association (KMA) signed a 'snap agreement' with the government and ruling party, which weakened the justification for collective action," and added, "We have decided to lower the level of protest to stage 1 (residents and students return, only one-person protests continue) and return to the field from 7 a.m. on the 7th."

However, as news of the return spread, medical students and some residents strongly opposed it. Protests surged as medical students from different schools and residents from various hospitals voiced differing opinions, ultimately nullifying the residents’ planned return.

In particular, medical students are resisting by refusing to take the practical portion of the national medical licensing examination. On the same day, the emergency committee of the Korean Medical Student Association (KMSA) announced that they will continue the boycott of the national exam. The KMSA emergency committee decided unanimously to maintain the refusal to take the medical licensing exam, following the resolution of representatives from 40 medical schools nationwide.

Cho Seung-hyun, president of the KMSA, stated, "We will maintain strong solidarity with the KIRA emergency committee and continue to discuss medical issues," adding, "Medical school professors will also participate in collective action."

◆Ministry of Health and Welfare: "Only until midnight today"... Confusion in the medical community= On the afternoon of the same day, the government announced that the practical medical licensing exam will proceed as scheduled from the 8th. To take the exam, applicants must complete registration by midnight on the 6th. The government had postponed the exam start date from the 1st to the 8th after about 90% of medical students expressed their intention to boycott the exam in protest against the expansion of medical school quotas and other issues.

Son Young-rae, head of strategic planning at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said, "Students who wish to take the practical exam must be aware that if they do not reapply within the registration deadline, they will not be able to take this round of the medical licensing practical exam." He added, "There have been considerable complaints from registered examinees about the previous postponement, so please make sure to apply by midnight today." He emphasized that since the exam date has already been postponed once and the registration period extended, no further extensions will be possible.

As residents reversed their decision to return to work and medical students continue to boycott the licensing exam, confusion in the medical community is expected to intensify. A hospital official said, "Until this afternoon, the residents’ return to medical practice was considered a done deal, but due to renewed internal opposition, the reversal will prolong patient inconvenience," adding, "If many fourth-year medical students also boycott the exam, the shortage of doctors in medical settings will become a serious issue."

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