The Korean Medical Association (KMA), the country’s largest doctors’ organization with more than 129,000 members, has announced that they will hold a strike on June 20. This strike is in protest of the government’s decision to increase the quota for medical students. In addition, professors from 40 medical schools have also decided to go on a one-day strike on June 18. Despite the strikes, hospitals have announced that emergency rooms and treatment of critically ill patients will not be affected.
The purpose of the KMA’s strike is also to pressure officials to cancel administrative penalty regulations for interns and residents who quit their jobs in February. It is expected that more than 50,000 doctors nationwide will participate in the strike, making it the largest collective action in history. In response to the strike, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called on doctors to cancel the strike plan, emphasizing the commitment to stop administrative sanctions for interns returning to work. However, the government is not willing to completely cancel the policy of enrolling more medical students, citing constitutional and legal obligations.
Since February 20, resident doctors and interns have been on strike to protest the government’s policy of increasing enrollment quotas. The government believes this is necessary to address the needs of an aging population and allocate more doctors to rural areas. However, the medical community argues that this move will weaken the quality of medical education and increase patients’ medical costs. They are calling for improved salaries and benefits for doctors and better legal protection against malpractice lawsuits before negotiations can proceed. Despite government attempts to de-escalate the situation, medical associations are standing firm in their demands for a complete reversal of
