On March 4, the South Korean Ministry of Health said it had begun procedures to suspend the labor contracts of about 7,000 trainee doctors who did not return to work as ordered by the Government.
According to Yonhap, the South Korean Ministry of Health also warned that this punishment would be "irreversible".
Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said the government has taken steps to suspend the labor contracts of trainee doctors who quit without permission. In addition, according to Park Min-soo, the Korean government will conduct an investigation into the responsibility of key officials at medical institutions for the mass resignations that caused chaos in the medical industry.
Trainee doctors, who play a vital role in supporting surgeries and emergency services at major general hospitals in South Korea, have been on a work stoppage and walkout since mid-February, leading to mass cancellations and delays of surgeries and emergency medical treatments. The South Korean government has given doctors until February 29 to return to work or face disciplinary action, including prosecution or revocation of their medical licenses.
As of March 4, about 9,000 trainee doctors had quit their jobs at general hospitals to protest plans to add 2,000 medical students starting in 2025, bringing the total to 5,058. Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said that as of February 29, only 565 had returned to work.
KHANH MINH
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