Upon Resignation Acceptance News... Resident Representative: "Are Severance Payments Ready? We Are Not Returning"

Park Dan Resident Representative "Will Not Return to Medical Field"
"Prepared for Resignation Acceptance... It's Okay Even If Taken Away"

As the conflict between the medical community and the government has continued for over three months, the government announced that it will sequentially accept the resignation letters of residents who have left medical practice. In response, Park Dan, the emergency response committee chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association (Daejeonhyeop), maintained his stance of not returning to the medical field, stating, "Nothing will change."

Park Dan, Emergency Response Committee Chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 4th, Chairman Park posted on his social media (SNS), "It's noisy again. I hope you have prepared the severance pay," expressing his intention not to return. He criticized, "The government has been saying 'under review' and 'under discussion' for over three months," and added, "I don't understand why both the Korean Medical Association and the Ministry of Health and Welfare keep uttering meaningless words."

Chairman Park said, "But now, shouldn't everyone really do something? Stop making noise and withdraw the order to resume work. Otherwise, impose administrative sanctions." He continued, "Honestly, I am no longer curious about what they say. They probably only intend to exploit residents for one more day." Nevertheless, Park asserted, "Nothing has changed. I will not return to the emergency room. Will you arrest me?" This statement is interpreted as a direct criticism of both the Korean Medical Association, which is entering a general strike vote, and the government, which is offering conciliatory measures toward the residents.

On the previous day (the 3rd), Chairman Park also told the Daejeonhyeop internally, "Like me, didn't everyone come out prepared for their resignation letters to be accepted from the start?" He added, "I still vividly remember the feeling when I wrote my resignation letter. It has only been postponed so far due to the order prohibiting the acceptance of resignation letters." He continued, "Do you remember February 20th, the day we shouted for exactly one week? It has now been 100 days. Everyone is doing very well," and encouraged, "There is no precedent like this. But the road ahead is still long. We can do it. And we must. Let's stay strong. The students are watching only us."

He also maintained his position of not returning regardless of government announcements. Chairman Park said, "There will probably be another announcement. But in the end, nothing has changed," and added, "It's okay if you arrest me. I have always been proud and confident at every moment. Let's make this a year we can look up to the sky without a single shameful point."

Meanwhile, Cho Gyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, is scheduled to hold a 'Medical Reform Issues Briefing' at the Government Seoul Office in the afternoon. Although the Ministry of Health and Welfare only shared the schedule without specific agenda items, it is reported that they are likely to announce an exit strategy regarding the mass departure of residents.

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