Professor Pleading for Return to Field: "MZ Residents May Feel Government Is Coercive"

"Threat to Patient's Life and Death Cannot Be Justified"

Professor Kwon Yong-jin of the Public Medical Center at Seoul National University Hospital, who appealed for the return of residents who collectively resigned in protest against the expansion of medical school quotas, stated, "Doctors can also strike or express their opinions," but advised, "Unlike other countries, our country has administrative orders, so I hope they understand the legal limits well." He expressed hope that residents would not suffer damage as the government has declared a strong stance against medical strikes.

On the 26th, Professor Kwon appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "I am a doctor but also a legal scholar specializing in medical law," adding, "It seems that the residents have received various legal consultations, but since the system is relatively new, it is difficult to say that lawyers' advice is accurate." He expressed concern, saying, "I hope they do not rely solely on consultations to judge what they might face later," and added, "Providing good information for judgment is the position of a senior."

Medical staff are moving at a large hospital in Seoul on the 20th, when residents of the Big 5 hospitals stopped working as of 6 a.m. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

In response to the question, "If residents are unlikely to suffer damage from a strike, is collective resignation justified?" he answered, "No." Professor Kwon said, "From an ethical perspective, harm should not be caused to patients," and added, "While inconvenience to patients may occur, actions that threaten life and death cannot be justified in any form."

Professor Kwon also criticized the government, which warned that residents could face the maximum legal penalty if serious harm occurs due to the strike, saying, "MZ (Millennial + Generation Z) residents will feel it is authoritarian and coercive." He said, "When restricting doctors' fundamental rights, it is necessary to persuade and make them understand that 'fundamental rights can be restricted for public interest,' and 'it is unfortunate but unavoidable, and we are enforcing the law,'" adding, "If you tell MZ generation residents, 'If you go out, we will issue administrative orders,' or 'You could face the maximum legal penalty,' they cannot help but feel the process is authoritarian and coercive, regardless of how it unfolds."

On the 23rd, Professor Kwon stated via social media, "If you truly want to fight, return to the hospital, have alternatives, and engage in dialogue with the government." This was due to concerns that administrative measures could become a reality as the government raised the health care disaster alert level to the highest crisis level, 'Severe,' that morning. Professor Kwon said, "The escalation of the crisis level provides the government with a substantial basis to exercise authority, so strong administrative measures are expected to be swiftly enforced," adding, "Administrative measures leave a record that will follow you until you quit the medical profession."

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