South Korean officials have issued return-to-work orders for doctors who participated in a one-day walkout as part of an ongoing strike against government plans to increase medical school admissions. The strike, which began in February, involves over 12,000 trainee doctors who oppose the government's proposal to add up to 10,000 doctors by 2035. Critics argue that the plan could overwhelm medical schools and compromise the quality of healthcare services in the country.
Approximately 4% of South Korea's 36,000 private medical facilities joined the one-day strike, while medical school professors at four major hospitals affiliated with Seoul National University initiated an indefinite walkout, raising concerns about potential disruptions in medical services.
The Korean Medical Association, the largest doctors' lobby in the country with over 100,000 members, has threatened to escalate the strike to an indefinite level if the government does not abandon its plans to increase medical school admissions.
Despite the strike actions, South Korean Deputy Health Minister Jun Byung-wang stated that there have been no significant issues with medical services so far. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the trust between doctors and patients and warned that doctors who defy return-to-work orders could face license suspensions or other penalties under the law.
President Yoon Suk Yeol described the strike as regrettable and vowed to take strong action against any illegal activities that jeopardize patient care. The government argues that the country needs more doctors to address the challenges posed by an aging population, downplaying concerns about potential income declines for doctors.
While the striking doctors represent only a fraction of the total medical professionals in South Korea, their actions have led to the cancellation of surgeries and treatments at some hospitals, particularly those reliant on junior doctors and trainees.
Government officials had initially threatened to suspend the licenses of striking doctors but later paused those measures to facilitate dialogue in hopes of resolving the dispute.
