Seoul

On Thursday, the South Korean government announced it is considering legal action against some medical professors who have threatened to boycott junior doctor training programs. This move comes in response to their protest over the government’s handling of trainee resignations and increased medical school admission quotas.

Several medical professors have pledged to withdraw from training junior doctors to protest the government’s decision to accept the resignations of striking trainees and the planned rise in medical school admissions. Director General for Healthcare Policy Kim Kook-il confirmed that legal measures are being reviewed to address the boycott.

Hospitals are preparing to onboard approximately 7,700 trainee doctors for the upcoming training program in September. This follows the government’s acceptance of 7,648 resignations from trainees, allowing striking doctors to transition to new jobs and ending a prolonged walkout.

In February, over 90% of about 13,000 junior doctors resigned in protest against the government’s medical reform plan. The government has responded by increasing the medical school admission quota by about 1,500 students next year to tackle the ongoing doctor shortage.