South Korea threatens legal action against doctors protesting against medical reforms

South Korea’s Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, announced on Monday (March 4) that authorities would begin inspecting hospitals to take legal action against trainee doctors who have persisted in a walkout against government plans to increase medical school admissions even after the Feb 29 deadline.

Approximately 9,000 resident and intern doctors, constituting around 70 per cent of the country’s total doctors, have been on strike since February 20 over increase in medical seats which they said would burden the system without addressing the systemic issues.

Despite warnings from the government about potential administrative and legal penalties, including the suspension of medical licenses and fines or imprisonment, the protesting trainee physicians have not returned to work as of the end of last month.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said during a televised briefing on Monday, “From today, we plan to conduct on-site inspections to confirm trainee doctors who have not returned and take action according to the law and principle without exception.”