Collective Strike Extends to 'Big 5 Hospitals'... Government Vows Strict Response to Illegal Actions (Comprehensive)

Medical Association's General Strike on the 18th... University Hospitals Join Walkout
Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters: "Will Persuade to Prevent Realization"

As the medical community has announced a collective strike and a general strike on the 18th, the government has vowed to respond strictly if illegal activities occur.

Lee Han-kyung, the 2nd Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for the doctors' collective action and head of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, held a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the government Sejong Complex on the morning of the 13th and stated, "We will persuade until the last moment to prevent the medical community's collective strike from materializing, and we will respond strictly to illegal acts."

The medical community has announced collective action on the 18th in opposition to the government's plan to increase medical school admissions and the essential medical package. The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which mostly consists of private practitioners, has decided to hold a collective strike and a nationwide rally on the 18th. Medical school professors have also expressed their intention to participate. The Korean Association of Medical School Professors (KAMSP), a group of medical school professors, said, "At an emergency general meeting on the 12th, we decided to actively participate in the strike and the nationwide doctors' rally scheduled for the 18th." KAMSP also requested cooperation from hospital directors to adjust medical services.

As the faculty of Seoul National University College of Medicine and the Korean Medical Association each announced collective strikes on the 17th and 18th respectively, on the 11th, a placard condemning the government's increase in medical school quotas was placed at the Korean Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Individual university hospitals have also decided to join the collective strike. The so-called 'Big Five' hospitals, including Seoul National University Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Asan Medical Center, and Severance Hospital, are also expected to participate in the strike. Some of these hospitals are discussing additional actions such as an 'indefinite strike' along with the strike on the 18th. However, medical services in essential fields will continue.

Regarding this, Lee emphasized, "There are cases in medical settings where chemotherapy is delayed or surgeries are canceled, and patients who have been diagnosed with cancer are anxious about whether they can receive timely follow-up treatment," adding, "The medical community's (strike) movement is causing great worry and anxiety among the public, especially patients." He continued, "The government will prioritize the lives and health of the people, firmly maintain the emergency medical system, and respond strictly to illegal acts. If any damage occurs, please actively contact the Damage Report Support Center, and the government and local governments will do their best to protect and support you."

Lee also urged residents to return to the medical field and participate in discussions on medical reform. He said, "Medical reform is the government's promise to the people to provide timely and quality medical services anytime and anywhere," and added, "Residents, who are the future leaders of Korea's medical field, are requested to return to patients' side and participate in such medical reform discussions."

Although the government has consistently sent messages to discuss medical reform together, the medical community is gradually raising its level of response. After residents and medical students began collective action in February and the government maintained its 'medical school admission increase' policy, even professors have taken the lead in strikes and proposals. The KMA will hold a joint meeting in the afternoon with the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, KAMSP, and the Emergency Committee of Medical School Professors (ECMSP) to discuss responses to medical issues. It is expected that the groups will exchange opinions on the collective strike and future plans.

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