The medical community in South Korea has launched a series of protests in opposition to the government’s plans to increase medical school admissions. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – In a dramatic turn of events, the medical community in South Korea has launched a series of protests, including mass resignations by resident doctors and a collective leave of absence by medical students, in opposition to the government’s plans to increase medical school admissions. This move has sparked widespread concern over a potential healthcare disaster.
The collective action, involving both seasoned physicians and aspiring medical students, appears to be driven by a history of successful negotiations with the government, bolstered by the medical profession’s unique position as irreplaceable personnel.
This has instilled a sense of confidence within the community, reinforcing their stance against the government’s proposals.
Despite the government’s stern warnings of legal consequences, including license suspensions for absentees and criminal investigations for ringleaders of the protests, the medical community’s defiance only seems to grow.
Reports indicate a staggering 74.4% of residents from top training hospitals have submitted their resignations, with over 8,000 already leaving their positions.
The situation is equally dire among medical students, with over 11,000 from 34 medical schools taking a collective leave, representing nearly 63% of all medical students nationwide.
The government’s threats have been met with derision and defiance, with former Korean Medical Association president Noh Hwan-gyu publicly stating the government’s inability to win over doctors, predicting an unavoidable healthcare crisis.
The Ministry of Education’s attempts to downplay the collective leave of absence as not meeting the official criteria for a leave have been met with skepticism and mockery within online communities.
The medical community’s bold stance is rooted in a series of past confrontations where the government eventually conceded to their demands. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Participants in these discussions seem confident that the consequences will be minimal, with an expectation of eventual accommodation by the authorities.
The medical community’s bold stance is rooted in a series of past confrontations where the government eventually conceded to their demands.
From the backlash against the separation of drug prescribing and dispensing in 2000 to the opposition to remote healthcare initiatives, doctors have consistently managed to secure favorable outcomes through strikes and collective actions.
The recent uproar against the proposed increase in medical school admissions and the establishment of public medical schools is yet another chapter in this ongoing struggle.
A move by the previous administration in 2020 to push forward with plans to boost the medical workforce by 4,000 was faced with widespread strikes and the refusal of medical students to take their licensing exams, forcing the government to backtrack.
This series of concessions has reinforced the notion of an ‘invincible’ medical profession, further empowering doctors and medical students in their negotiations with the authorities.
Experts like Nam Eun-kyung from the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice suggest that this cycle of protest and concession has emboldened the medical community, creating a belief that the government will inevitably yield.
However, there’s a growing public sentiment favoring the expansion of medical education, indicating a complex and evolving debate over the future of healthcare in South Korea.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
