Military Manpower Administration Chief: "If Many Resident Doctors' Resignation Letters Are Accepted, Sequential Enlistment Will Begin Next Year"

Lee Ki-sik, the Commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, stated that if the resignation letters submitted by the residents who have taken collective action in protest against the government's increase in medical school admissions are accepted in large numbers, their enlistment will proceed sequentially.

At a press briefing held on the 6th at the Yongsan Defense Convention, Commissioner Lee responded to related questions by saying, "If the resignation letters submitted to the institutions where the residents are training are accepted, they must enlist next year."

He explained that if all resignation letters are accepted, the number of personnel the military can accommodate will be exceeded, so not everyone can enlist next year. "Since such a situation has not occurred until now, there are no regulations on how to determine the order of enlistment, so we are considering revising related orders or guidelines," he said.

He added, "For example, there could be various options such as sending residents in their 4th, 3rd, and 2nd years of residency in order, or sending them in order of age."

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If they enlist without completing the residency program, they will serve as military doctors (lieutenants) or public health doctors.

However, he noted, "Currently, the resignation letters have not been accepted," and "Until the resignation letters are accepted, there is no relation to military service (enlistment), and the Military Manpower Administration only manages them as military service resources."

He also mentioned, "I understand that the government is preparing to suspend the licenses of the residents who have collectively left," adding that if the license is suspended rather than revoked, they do not have to enlist.

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