South Korean Government Suspends Permits For 7,000 Internship Doctors Participating In Mass Strikes

Hospital illustration in Seoul, South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/parkyongjoo)

JAKARTA - South Korea's Ministry of Health on Monday said it began taking procedures to suspend permits of around 7,000 interns who violated government orders to return to work, warning such penalties could not be changed.

Thousands of prospective doctors remain out of work on Monday, marking the 14th straight day of the strike, protesting plans to add 2,000 medical school seats starting next year, from the current 3,058 seats.

Second Deputy Health Minister Park Min-soo said the government had taken steps to suspend medical permits for training participant doctors leaving their workplaces.

"This action cannot be changed," Park said, adding the punishment would leave a permanent record affecting their future career path.

"The government intends to conduct an investigation in the field to find violations, which will be followed up with a response based on law and principles," Park explained.

"Responsions to important officials responsible for collective actions that cause chaos in the medical sector will be carried out firmly and immediately," he said.

Earlier today, Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said authorities planned to initiate punitive measures against 'illegal' labor actions carried out by interns.

"The government remains steadfast in principle against illegal collective actions carried out by training participant doctors," Minister Cho said at a government response meeting.

Interns and residents, who play an important role in assisting operations and emergency services at major public hospitals, continue to carry out collective work actions, leading to mass cancellations and delays in emergency operations and medical treatments.

The government gave doctors time to protest until last Thursday to return to work, warning them that non-compliance could result in punitive action, including criminal penalties or the revocation of their doctor's license.

So far, the warning hasn't helped them much to get back to work.

As of last Thursday, 8,945 training participant doctors had left their workplaces. Of that number, Park said as many as 565 people had returned to work.

It is known that doctors can be subject to a suspension of their medical permits for up to one year, or face a sentence of three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won, for disobeying the government's orders.

The Ginseng State Government is pushing for an increase in the number of participants in medical education as a way to overcome the shortage of doctors in rural areas and critical medical fields, such as pediatrics and neurosurgeons, and also considering the aging population.

Meanwhile, doctors said the increase in quotas would reduce the quality of medical education and other services, resulting in higher medical costs for patients. They call for steps to address low-paid specialist doctors and increase legal protection against excessive medical malpractice lawsuits.