Medical Crisis and Raids... Doctors Resist with Large-Scale Protests

Tensions are escalating between the government and doctors as punishment for the resident doctors engaged in collective action enters the final countdown.

With the government expected to take administrative measures and file charges against the resident doctors who have not returned, doctors plan to hold a large-scale rally in Seoul on the 3rd to raise their voices.

According to the government and medical circles on the 2nd, the police executed search warrants on the day before against officials of the Korea Medical Association (KMA) who were reported on charges including violation of the Medical Service Act.

On the 21st, concerns over a medical crisis are growing due to the collective resignation and work stoppage of residents opposing the increase in medical school quotas. A notice about the shortage of medical staff is posted in the emergency room of a university hospital in downtown Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The government initiated a forced investigation for the first time since the recent 'medical crisis' immediately after the deadline for resident doctors to return (February 29) set earlier by the government passed.

The police are reported to have secured materials related to KMA meeting minutes, work logs, protest roadmaps, and collective action guidelines through the search. The government views these individuals as having instigated and abetted the collective action by supporting the mass resignation of resident doctors and providing legal assistance.

Just before the search and seizure, the Ministry of Health and Welfare publicly notified some of the resident doctors engaged in collective action of orders to resume work (return) through its website and other means.

After delivering the orders via mail, text messages to mobile phones, and home visits, the ministry announced the orders again through public notice, signaling that punishment for the resident doctors who have not returned is entering the final stage.

On the 20th, residents at one of Seoul's major hospitals among the Big 5 hospitals stopped working as of 6 a.m., and medical staff are seen moving around. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The targets are 13 people including Park Dan, the chairperson of the Korea Intern Resident Association (KIRA) emergency committee. Most are executives who led the collective action in the emergency committee or at various training hospitals, and punishment against them is expected to be carried out first. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has stated, "From March, for those who do not return, a minimum three-month license suspension and judicial procedures such as investigation and prosecution will be unavoidable according to law and principles."

Resistance from doctors is also intensifying. The KMA plans to hold a 'National Doctors' General Rally' at Yeouido Park in Seoul on the 3rd to demonstrate their strength. The KMA expects about 20,000 participants at the rally.

In a statement, the KMA said, "We stand at the edge of a cliff with nowhere left to retreat," and added, "We may cause inconvenience to the public."

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