Resident Collective Resignation Enters 5th Day... Health Crisis Level Raised to 'Severe'

"Growing Concerns Over Damage to National Health and Life"

As the collective action of residents opposing the increase in medical school admissions continues for the fifth day, the government has decided to raise the health and medical disaster alert to the highest level, 'serious.'

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held a crisis assessment meeting chaired by Vice Minister Park Min-su the previous day and announced that, according to the health and medical disaster crisis management standard manual, the health and medical disaster alert would be raised from 'caution' to 'serious.'

The Ministry explained, "Due to the intensifying withdrawal of medical residents from medical sites caused by their collective action, and the Korea Medical Association (KMA) announcing a nationwide doctors' general rally, concerns about damage to the health and lives of the public have increased. This measure aims to minimize gaps in medical service access for the public."

The disaster alert levels consist of 'interest,' 'caution,' 'caution,' and 'serious.'

At the 'caution' level, the Minister of Health and Welfare serves as the head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters, but at the 'serious' level, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is formed with the Prime Minister as the head, mobilizing all related ministries.

Accordingly, today's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

As of 10 p.m. on the 21st, 9,275 residents, accounting for 74.4% of the total residents at 100 major training hospitals, have submitted their resignation letters, and 8,024 (64.4%) have left their workplaces.

The Korea Medical Association (KMA), opposing the increase in medical school admissions, plans to hold a general rally on the 3rd of next month.

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