In response to ongoing protests over healthcare reform plans, South Korea‘s government launched a hotline for doctors to provide support against harassment or peer pressure related to the mass walkout. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong defended the reforms, emphasizing their benefits for intern and resident doctors’ work conditions, a key demand of the nearly 12,000 trainees who have left their posts.
The hotline aims to assist trainee doctors in returning to work without facing intimidation or coercion from peers participating in the walkout. Cho condemned the harassment of trainees who chose not to join the protest or wished to resume their duties.
Despite the government’s efforts, there is little indication of an imminent resolution to the three-week walkout, with some medical professors threatening to join the protest by resigning. As of Monday, over 5,500 doctors who participated in the walkout received advance notices warning of potential suspension of their medical licenses if they did not provide justification for their actions.
The dispute revolves around proposed reforms, including increasing medical school admissions by 2,000 students annually starting in 2025. While the government argues that these changes will improve access to medical services, protesters argue that it will lower the quality of education and fail to address pay and work conditions.
The standoff has gained attention ahead of parliamentary elections, with critics accusing President Yoon Suk Yeol of exploiting medical reforms for political gain. Professors at Seoul National University medical school threatened to resign if a compromise was not reached, underscoring mounting pressure on the government to address the dispute.
Dr. Jin-Haeng Chung, a professor at Seoul National University, voiced solidarity with trainee doctors, expressing concerns about a potential brain drain as many consider practicing abroad due to the ongoing unrest. As the standoff persists, South Korea’s healthcare system faces significant challenges, with hopes for a resolution dwindling amid escalating tensions between medical professionals and the government.
