"Resigned Residents Returning to Previous Hospitals Allowed at Hospital's Discretion... Excess Quotas to Be Recognized" (Update)

Agreement Reached at the Third Resident Training Council Meeting...
Second Half Recruitment Begins on August 11
Further Discussions Needed on Quota Guarantees for Residents Already Enlisted

The government has decided that if residents who have resigned return to their previous hospitals in the same specialty and year, training hospitals will have the autonomy to determine their own quotas, and any excess in the number of residents will be recognized.

On the 7th, the 3rd Resident Training Council meeting was held at Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul, attended by Kim Gukil, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare; Yu Heechul, Chairman of the Training Environment Evaluation Committee; Kim Wonseop, President of the Korean Association of Training Hospitals; Lee Jinwoo, President of the Korean Medical Association; Han Sungjon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association; and Kim Donggun, Emergency Response Committee member. Photo by Yonhap News

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the morning of August 7 that it had reached this agreement at the 3rd Resident Training Council meeting, held at Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul, together with the Korean Resident Association (DaJeonHyeop) and others, regarding the recruitment of residents for the second half of the year, which will take place from August 11 until the end of August.

The meeting was attended by Kim Gukil, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare; Yoo Heechul, Chairman of the Training Environment Evaluation Committee; Kim Wonseop, President of the Korean Association of Training Hospitals; Lee Jinwoo, President of the Korean Medical Association; Han Sungjon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Resident Association; and Kim Donggun, Emergency Response Committee member.

After the meeting, Director Kim told reporters, "We have decided to recruit residents within the scope of vacancies by hospital, specialty, and year. If a resident who has resigned returns to the same hospital, specialty, and year where they previously worked, the recruitment of that resident will be determined autonomously by the training hospital. If this results in an excess quota, the Minister of Health and Welfare will recognize it according to the proper procedures."

Director Kim also stated, "If resigned residents return to training through the second half recruitment, we plan to coordinate with the relevant ministries so that they can complete as much of their training as possible before military enlistment. If, depending on the scale of returns, some residents are required to enlist during their training, this will be recognized as a post hoc quota." However, it was noted that the issue of residents who have already enlisted will be reconsidered.

Director Kim further commented, "An additional specialist exam was not discussed, as it was not requested by the Korean Resident Association. Since this was essentially the first official discussion with the residents, I expect that things may change as we resolve each issue going forward."

Previously, the Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Resident Association had presented three demands: the formation of a field expert-centered council to review President Yoon Suk Yeol's essential medical policy package; improvement of the resident training environment and assurance of training continuity; and the establishment of a body to discuss easing the legal burden regarding medical accidents.

Director Kim stated, "The review of the essential medical policy package cannot be decided solely between the medical community and the government; it will be discussed by an innovation committee that includes participation from various sectors of the public. We will provide opportunities for residents to express their opinions and engage in sufficient discussion." Regarding the easing of legal risks related to medical accidents, he said, "We will continue discussions and the government will also make this a priority. We will also work to normalize the low reimbursement rates in essential medical fields." He added, "As of today's Resident Training Council meeting, I believe the government has taken all possible measures it can at this time."

The government plans to continue holding Resident Training Council meetings every two weeks, focusing on improving the resident training environment and related topics.

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