S. Korea to revoke medical licenses amid escalating strike crisis

Approximately 9,000 doctors went on strike two weeks ago in response to government proposals to boost medical school enrollments

 South Korea has announced the suspension of licenses for medical trainees who have defied an ultimatum to halt a strike against government proposals to increase medical school enrollments.  

Approximately 9,000 junior physicians went on strike on Feb. 20, resulting in the postponement of surgeries and medical treatments, as well as disrupting hospital emergency services. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong stated that officials would visit hospitals to verify if the doctors had resumed work and would enforce legal measures without exception.  

He warned that those who did not return to work might face significant obstacles in their professional advancement. The striking doctors represent only a fraction of South Korea’s 140,000 physicians but constitute up to 40% of the total medical staff in some major hospitals. Despite a government deadline of Feb. 29 for their return to work, thousands of doctors participated in a large demonstration organized by the Korean Medical Association in Seoul on Sunday, wearing black masks.  

The protesters demand that the government address salary and working conditions before increasing the number of doctors. South Korean law prohibits doctors from going on strike. The government argues that increasing medical school admissions by 2,000 students starting in the 2025 academic year is essential due to the country’s aging population and low doctor-to-patient ratio.  

President Yoon Suk-yeol has taken a firm stance against the strike, leading to an increase in his approval ratings. With parliamentary elections approaching in April, the government is unlikely to yield quickly, while doctors have vowed to stand firm, insisting that the government’s plan fails to tackle the real issues in the healthcare sector. 

Source: Newsroom