Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Israeli vehicles fire at eastern Gaza City.
Al-Qassam Brigades: We will hand over the body of one of the occupation prisoners that was exhumed today in the Gaza Strip at 9 pm Gaza time.
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: One martyr and one wounded in the initial toll of an Israeli drone strike targeting the town of Al-Bayyad.
Local sources report that a car bomb explosion has targeted the General Security headquarters near the Baniyas Court in the Tartous countryside, western Syria
Israeli artillery strikes target Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: IOF arrest leader Jamal al-Tawil, who was liberated as part of the prisoner exchange, from his home in al-Bireh.
Palestinian media: 'Israel' launches two airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.

Striking junior doctors refuse to return to hospitals: S. Korea

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Jul 2024 13:35
4 Min Read

Around 12,000 trainee doctors have been on strike since February 20 in protest of the South Korean government’s reforms to combat the country's doctor shortage, leading to treatment and surgery cancellations.

Listen
  • x
  • Doctors protest against the government’s plan to raise the annual enrollment quota at medical schools in Seoul, February 15, 2024. (AFP)
    Doctors protest against the government’s plan to raise the annual enrollment quota at medical schools in Seoul, on February 15, 2024. (AFP)

Most striking junior doctors are refusing to return to hospitals despite government persuasion, the South Korean Health Ministry announced on Thursday, leading to further deterioration of the country’s healthcare system amid months of strikes.

"Unfortunately, it appears that the majority of junior doctors will not return," Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said Thursday, referring to the 12,000 trainee doctors who have been on strike since February 20 in protest of the government’s reforms to combat the doctor shortage, leading to treatment and surgery cancellations.

The government refuses to retract the medical reforms meant to boost the healthcare system, especially since South Korea’s population is rapidly aging, but it has attempted to draw the striking doctors to return to the hospitals by ensuring they will not face prosecution.

Only 8.4% of trainee doctors from 211 general hospitals across the country have gone to work as of Wednesday morning, AFP reported, citing the Health Ministry.

Many striking physicians have handed in their resignations as part of their protest, while the government instructed hospitals to finalize the terminations of junior doctors who did not return to work on Monday. This order was met with criticism from Park Dan, the head of the Korean Intern Resident Association, who threatened legal action and blamed hospital directors for "interfering" with the doctors' chances at finding employment. 

"The government has not presented any concrete plans or viable solutions to address the shortage of trainee doctors," Kim Sung-Ju, the head of the Korean Cancer Patients Rights Council, said to AFP, holding both the government and trainee physicians for the current state of the healthcare system.

"Trainee doctors have claimed they are being cast as 'villains', but it's unclear whether that characterization is entirely inaccurate at this stage,” he added.

Related News

Trudeau urges rail firms, unions to avert strike through negotiations

South Korea initiates legal measures against doctors still on strike

The public has ultimately accepted the government’s reform plan, and they are accusing the doctors of failing to accept the resolution to protect their social status and salaries, especially when severely ill patients are the primary victims of the strike.

Doctors vs. the people

Medical professionals have strongly opposed a new government proposal to significantly increase medical school admissions by 2,000, arguing that it could negatively impact the quality of healthcare services. Critics argue that doctors are primarily worried about potential reductions in their salaries and social standing resulting from the reform.

In light of the suspension of medical licenses of thousands of doctors back in April, the president called on medics to return to hospitals before the suspension process was complete.

He continued that "the cartel of doctors had been strengthened" by every failure that previous governments had in increasing admissions. "We cannot repeat the same mistake again".

Despite opposition from doctors, the plan has garnered public support, with experts suggesting that the public is weary of extended wait times at hospitals. A Korean Gallup poll revealed that over 75% of respondents favor the plan, irrespective of their political affiliations.

However, doctors have vehemently opposed the plan, with the Korean Medical Association likening the government's legal threats to a "witch hunt".

Vice Minister Park emphasized that the plan is essential in South Korea's rapidly aging society. Without an increase in the current quota, doctors would face an "exponential demand" that could potentially overwhelm the healthcare system in the future.

"Hospitals are already having a hard time finding doctors now, and problems of accessing medical service in time have occurred repeatedly," Park added. 

  • South Korea
  • Strike

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bn defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tightens El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS