In an unprecedented move, South Korea has upgraded its public health alert to "severe" as a response to thousands of doctors going on strike to express their opposition to government recruitment plans.

On February 6th, the government announced a plan to increase the number of medical school admissions.

The plan is to increase the medical school admission quota by 2,000 students over the next five years starting from the 2025 school year, to a total of 5,058 students per year.

South Korea boasts a predominantly privatized healthcare system, and its doctors rank among the highest-paid globally.

Specialists working in hospitals earn a substantial $200,000 per year on average.

While critics of the strike claim that doctors are opposing increased competition, doctors assert that an enlarged quota would not alleviate shortages.

They contend that the constraints are specific to certain specialties, such as emergency care, characterized by low pay and unfavorable working conditions.

Nearly two-thirds of the country's residents and interns participating in the strike emphasize that their advocacy revolves around seeking increased pay and reduced workload, rather than opposing the recruitment initiative.

While the debate between doctors and the government is escalating, the doctors are striking by resigning and going on marches.

Park Min-soo, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said at a briefing on the 21st: “71.2% of residents at 100 major hospitals submitted their resignations, and 63.1% of those who submitted resignations left their workplace.”

Also, hundreds of doctors rallied in Seoul and other cities, expressing discontent over not being consulted about the government's plan to increase quotas.

The Korean Medical Association also cautioned about a possible "indefinite strike" if the government proceeds with the proposed initiative.

They proceeded by saying that “We aren’t on strike. Rather, we are giving up. Us doctors have tried to create a proper medical environment in Korea, but under pressure from the government, which enforces policies without consulting, there is no longer any hope, so we are giving up our role as doctors.”

On the other hand, the doctors are also receiving mass criticism for holding patients’ health and lives hostage.

Kim, a patient with a broken leg that requires surgery, stated “Doctors are supposed to treat patients, so it seems unreasonable for them to go on strike.”

There are also ongoing reports of damage caused by residents resigning.

On the first day that the government established a Physician Collective Action Damage Reporting Support Center, they received over 100 cases .

These cases included cancellation of surgery, cancellation of medical appointments, refusal of treatment, and delayed hospitalization.

The strike had also affected other medical workers, other than residents.

A nurse on Blind, an online anonymous community for workers around the nation, complained: “Due to a shortage of hospital staff due to the residents’ strike, intern work was handed over to nurses.”

The nurse further expressed concern by saying: “Nurses are taking over patient complaints and doctors’ work, and if something goes wrong with a patient, nurses will take responsibility.”

The issue is not likely to fade anytime soon, until the government comes up with a solution that will address the ongoing strike.

Claire An

Grade 11

Yongsan International School of Seoul