Health and Medical Workers' Union Proposes National Candlelight Action to Prevent Doctors' Work Stoppage

On the 16th, residents of the 'Big 5' major hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area, opposing the government's medical school expansion, announced their intention to submit resignation letters. Residents are seen moving inside a large hospital in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Korea Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU), which includes nurses and workers at medical institutions and welfare facilities, has proposed a national candlelight action to prevent the suspension of medical services.

On the 18th, KHMU issued a public appeal stating, "The collective suspension of medical services by doctors opposing the increase in medical school admissions is an unethical act that disregards the lives of the people," and urged, "The public must step forward to normalize medical services."

The union criticized, "Doctors, who should be saving patients, are not seeking solutions through dialogue and are collectively suspending medical services to force the government to yield, which is a violation of medical ethics and the doctors' code of conduct."

They added, "According to the current situation, scheduled surgeries are already being canceled or postponed, and hospital admission dates are being delayed," and insisted, "Even during collective actions, essential services such as emergency rooms and operating rooms must be maintained."

They stated, "The increase in medical school admissions is not the government's ambition that doctors are fighting against, but a national task to prevent the disaster of medical system collapse and a demand of the people," and proposed that the public, civil society, the National Assembly, and local communities engage in nationwide action to stop the doctors' collective actions.

KHMU also added, "On the 19th, we will conduct a full investigation into patient damages caused by the collective resignation and suspension of medical services by residents, as well as the hardships faced by medical personnel, disclose the findings to the public, and join forces with all citizens who support the increase in medical school admissions."

Meanwhile, the major hospitals in Seoul known as the 'Big 5' (Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center, and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital) have accepted the collective resignation of residents as a foregone conclusion and are seeking countermeasures such as adjusting surgery schedules. The residents at these hospitals have decided to submit their resignation letters by the 19th and suspend work starting at 6 a.m. on the 20th.

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