Trainee Doctors in South Korea Escalate Protests Against Government’s Medical Student Increase Plan

SEOUL — South Korea is bracing for intensified protests from trainee doctors, with new medical graduates joining a widespread walkout against the government's proposal to increase the number of medical students. This move aims to address the perceived shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas and specialized medical fields. According to Yonhap News Agency, the nation's largest doctor's lobbying group, there is strong opposition to the government's unilateral decision to boost medical school admissions by 2,000 students next year. The association has vowed to fight "to the end" against the plan, emphasizing the use of all legitimate means to protest. The resistance has already seen significant impact, with thousands of intern and resident doctors from major general hospitals across the country walking off their jobs for the sixth consecutive day. This collective action has led to operational delays in numerous hospitals, compelling even critically ill patients to seek care in smaller medical facilities. Notably, a large number of graduates from several prominent institutions, including Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju and Pusan National University Hospital in Busan, have resigned from their upcoming internships in protest. The health ministry reports that 8,897, or 78.5 percent, of the 13,000 trainee doctors from 96 major teaching hospitals nationwide have submitted their resignations, with 7,863 not reporting for work. The government has responded by elevating its health care service crisis gauge to the highest level of "serious" and warning protesting doctors of potential legal consequences, including arrest and cancellation of medical licenses. Despite these threats, the KMA has organized further protests and is planning a mass demonstration in the financial district of Yeouido on March 3. The core of the dispute lies in the doctors' contention that the government should prioritize improving conditions for medical professionals, including protection from malpractice suits and enhanced compensation, to attract more physicians to under-served areas and specialties, rather than merely increasing the number of medical students. The ongoing protest has prompted the government to take measures to mitigate the impact on public health services, focusing on critical care patients and advising those with milder symptoms to seek treatment at smaller clinics. However, the shortage of on-duty doctors has already resulted in patients being turned away from hospitals, highlighting the severity of the situation and the urgent need for a resolution. GWANGJU - South Korea faces a deepening healthcare crisis as a significant number of new medical school graduates join an ongoing walkout, refusing to start their internships in protest against the government's plan to increase medical student admissions. This escalation is expected to intensify the pressure on the government, already contending with thousands of intern and resident doctors across major hospitals who have been striking for six consecutive days. According to Yonhap News Agency, the refusal of internships by graduates at key institutions such as Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju, Jeju National University Hospital, Pusan National University Hospital in Busan, and Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital marks a significant expansion of the protest. This collective action has led to operational delays at major hospitals, forcing patients, even those in critical condition, to seek care at smaller medical facilities. The shortage of on-duty doctors has prompted some hospitals to reduce their intensive care unit operations from three shifts to two. The Health Ministry disclosed that approximately 8,897, or 78.5 percent, of the 13,000 trainee doctors from 96 major teaching hospitals nationwide, have tendered their resignations, with 7,863 not reporting for duty. The government's response to the strike, including a stern warning of arrest and cancellation of medical licenses for participants, has not deterred more junior doctors from joining the protest. The government escalated its health care service crisis gauge to "serious," the highest level, in response to the strike. It argues that increasing the number of medical students is necessary to address a shortage of doctors in rural areas and essential medical fields. However, the striking doctors contend that the government should instead improve protections against malpractice suits and enhance compensation to attract more physicians to underserved areas. As the Korean Medical Association plans to convene to determine their next steps, the confrontation between the government and doctors continues to escalate. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong announced the assignment of a prosecutor to the Health Ministry to advise on legal actions against the protesting doctors, emphasizing the government's commitment to minimizing the strike's impact on public health. Meanwhile, the shortage of doctors has led to prioritization of critical cases in general hospitals, leaving patients with less severe conditions to seek alternative care options. In Daejeon, patients like Lee Seon-jeong and Kim have experienced firsthand the challenges of obtaining medical care amid the walkout, highlighting the tangible effects of the strike on the public's access to healthcare services.