South Korea doctors’ strike widens as medical professors join protests

Professors at a medical school submit resignation forms at a hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Some Medical professors plan to cut back hours and others will resign as a doctors strike in the country widens.

Medical professors in South Korea have announced their intention to reduce their practice hours, with some even planning to resign, as part of an expanding doctors' strike in the country.

This decision, set to commence on Monday, is in solidarity with trainee doctors who have been on strike for over a month in protest against a government proposal to increase medical school admissions.

Kim Chang-soo, the president of the Medical Professors Association of Korea, stated that professors will cut back on outpatient services to prioritize emergency and critically ill patients, while others will tender their resignations.

“It is evident that increasing medical school admissions will not only undermine medical education but also jeopardize our country’s healthcare system,” Kim Chang-soo emphasized.

The strike by trainee doctors, which began on February 20, opposes the plan to add 2,000 more medical school seats annually from 2025, aiming to address healthcare shortages in rural areas and cope with the rising healthcare demands due to South Korea's aging population.

However, the striking doctors, constituting 93% of the trainee workforce, argue that the proposed increase in student admissions will compromise service quality. Critics suggest that authorities should prioritize improving the pay and working conditions of trainee doctors first.

The ongoing strike has led to several hospitals redirecting patients and delaying medical procedures.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has prioritized healthcare reforms, remains steadfast in implementing the admissions plan despite the protests. The government has threatened to suspend the licenses of striking doctors, but Yoon has recently urged Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to adopt a more conciliatory approach and explore flexible measures.

Yoon's office also instructed the prime minister to establish a "constructive consultative body" to engage with all medical professionals.

A Gallup poll released on March 15 indicated that 38% of respondents viewed the government's handling of the doctors' backlash and the medical challenges during the strike positively, while 49% expressed dissatisfaction with the government's response.