The Korean Medical Association: "The Order to Reject Residents' Resignation Letters Should Be Canceled, Not Withdrawn"

"Stop Autocratic Administration"

The Korean Medical Association, a medical academic organization, argued that the government should cancel, not withdraw, the 'order prohibiting acceptance of resident resignation letters.'

On the 22nd, medical staff were moving at a large hospital in Seoul where some former residents who had left the hospital along with residents in protest against the increase in medical school admissions returned. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 7th, the Medical Association stated, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 4th that it would withdraw the order prohibiting acceptance of resignation letters and only suspend administrative actions against residents who returned, but this is a discriminatory administration that makes it difficult for the majority of residents to return." It added, "Doctors carefully consider not only the therapeutic effects but also the possibility of side effects when prescribing medication," and pointed out, "Government policies should also take into account not only effectiveness but also side effects."

It continued, "The government's rapid increase in medical school admissions causes various side effects such as the collapse of medical education, deterioration of resident training, increased national medical expenses, and the breakdown of science and engineering manpower," and expressed concern that "the withdrawal of the order prohibiting acceptance of resignation letters and discriminatory administration will also cause side effects that push residents completely out of essential medical care."

Claims were also made that the government's statement is an internal guideline of the Ministry of Health and Welfare without binding force. The Medical Association said, "At a press conference on the 4th, Jeon Byung-wang, director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated that according to the specialist training regulations, residents who resign cannot apply for residency at other hospitals for one year," but added, "However, what he mentioned is not the specialist training regulations, which are presidential decrees, but an internal guideline of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the ministry is threatening residents using internal guidelines that have no binding force."

It further stated, "After reviewing relevant laws, there is no delegated regulation that imposes a certain period restriction when a resident who resigned wishes to continue residency training at another institution," and added, "Restricting the period of job change for resigned residents based on internal guidelines is illegal administration."

The Medical Association urged, "We sincerely hope the government will stop its autocratic administration," and warned, "If there is no sincere dialogue, the current situation will prolong and eventually all citizens will become victims," calling once again for the government to discuss the issues with the medical community in a genuine manner.

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