Government to Conduct On-Site Inspections at 50 Training Hospitals This Week to Verify Absentees

"If not returned by the end of this month, legal action will be taken from March"

The government has reiterated its stance that if the residents who are engaging in collective action in opposition to the increase in medical school admissions do not return by the end of this month, they will face legal action starting in March.

Cho Kyu-hong, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Medical Staff Collective Action (Minister of Health and Welfare), stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 27th, "We will continue to respond to illegal collective actions in accordance with the law and principles," adding, "From March, it will be inevitable to proceed with license suspension and related legal procedures for those who do not return."

On the 27th, as collective actions by residents increased nationwide inconvenience due to medical service gaps, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, attended and spoke at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters video conference on doctors' collective actions held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The government plans to inspect the status of residents leaving their workplaces through on-site inspections of 50 training hospitals during this week.

Minister Cho said, "We plan to complete on-site inspections within this week targeting 50 training hospitals ranked from 51st to 100th based on the number of residents to identify those who have left their workplaces," and added, "We strongly request that residents who have left their workplaces return by the 29th."

He emphasized, "If they return to the hospitals by the 29th, they will not be held accountable for past actions."

Minister Cho also stated, "The government is always ready for dialogue," and urged, "We sincerely hope that the illegal collective action will stop, that they will return to the patients' side, and engage in dialogue with the government."

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