Even with Extended Application Period... 'Big 5' Residency Additional Recruitment Sees 'Minimal' Applicants

Instead of Training, Becoming General Practitioners... Residents Flocking to Private Clinics

Despite the government extending the schedule for residents in the second half of the year and even conducting additional recruitment, it was found that most training hospitals received only one or two applicants.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the medical community on the 19th, training hospitals nationwide closed applications for senior residents (2nd to 4th year) and interns starting training next month at 5 p.m. on the 16th. Applications for first-year residents were completed earlier on the 14th.

The number of residents recruited in the extended second half recruitment includes 2,435 interns, 1,364 first-year residents, and 3,483 senior residents, totaling 7,282.

The government extended the recruitment period, believing that some residents who did not apply due to the short application period and social pressure might still want to apply.

However, most hospitals, including the 'Big 5' hospitals such as Seoul Asan Hospital, Severance, Seoul National University Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and Catholic Central Medical Center, had zero or very few applicants, and there was no sign of residents returning.

An official from a major hospital said, "We did not expect residents who initially did not apply for the second half recruitment to come out during the additional recruitment," adding, "The government says it will give residents the maximum opportunity to return, but it seems residents have no intention of coming back at all."

Some training hospitals that had been holding off on processing resignations of 'non-responding' residents have recently decided to process resignations all at once. Previously, they delayed processing resignations fearing residents would move to the Seoul area, but as the situation prolonged, they now believe they must proceed for the residents' livelihoods. As resignations increase in regional training hospitals, residents who have resigned and hold general physician status continue to flood into private clinics.

Meanwhile, as the shortage of residents in major hospitals continues, the government is accelerating the transition of training hospitals into specialized personnel-centered hospitals. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of the 12th, 971 residents who resigned have been employed at medical institutions, an increase of 346 from 625 on the 5th. Of these, 42% are employed at hospital-level or higher medical institutions, while the rest are employed at clinic-level institutions.

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