Seoul - The medical faculty at Seoul National University (SNU) has declared their intention to resign en masse should the government fail to negotiate an end to the ongoing strike by trainee doctors. This announcement came after an online meeting involving professors from three SNU-affiliated hospitals, signaling a significant escalation in the dispute over medical education and healthcare staffing in South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to potentially resign was made by a substantial participation of faculty members, reflecting widespread discontent with the government's proposal to increase medical school admissions. This proposal has already led nearly 12,000 intern and resident doctors to abandon their posts, intensifying pressures on the healthcare system.
The council's emergency committee has stated that the professors will proceed with their resignation submissions starting next Monday unless the government engages in earnest negotiations to resolve the conflict. While the professors have pledged to maintain care for critical patients, their collective resignation could severely impact hospital operations nationwide.
The situation at SNU mirrors wider unrest within the medical community, with faculties at Sungkyunkwan University and the Catholic University of Korea also considering similar actions. This developing crisis underscores the growing tension between healthcare professionals and the South Korean government over medical training and resource allocation.