"Disclosure of Returning Resident Doctors' List is a Crime"... Police to Pursue Arrest and Investigation of Organizers

The police have announced a strict response policy, including arrest and investigation, regarding certain acts of publicly disclosing the names of residents who remain at medical sites to stay by patients' sides.

On the 7th, the National Police Agency stated, "Recently, so-called 'exposure operations' have occurred, posting the real names of residents who have returned and doctors who support increasing medical school quotas on doctor communities, along with threatening comments and ostracism." They added, "Posting real names or making threatening comments are clear criminal acts punishable by law, and for serious offenders, we plan to promptly and strictly respond, including pursuing arrest and investigation."

Earlier, a post titled "List of Available Resident Doctors" was uploaded on 'MediStaff,' an internet community used by doctors and medical students.

This post detailed information estimated to be the departments and the number of remaining residents by department at about 70 training hospitals nationwide who have not left the medical field.

It also included information presumed to be special notes related to remaining residents, such as "working secretly without registration" and "sent mocking KakaoTalk messages to resigning residents."

In some lists, about nine cases revealed two out of three characters of names presumed to be residents remaining on site. Information presumed to be their alma mater was also included.

Additionally, the police promised swift investigations into illegal activities targeting pharmaceutical company employees. The National Police Agency explained, "We are significantly strengthening intelligence gathering on illegal acts such as coercing pharmaceutical sales representatives into unnecessary acts or receiving illegal rebates," and added, "If illegality is confirmed or related complaints and accusations arise, we will immediately commence investigations."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Welfare received confirmation letters by the 29th of last month from 100 major training hospitals stating that 7,854 residents disobeyed orders to commence work (return).

Since then, the Ministry has been sending prior notices of administrative sanctions (three-month suspension of medical licenses) to residents confirmed to have left starting from the 5th.

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