On Tuesday, trainee doctors in South Korea went on a collective strike to demonstrate against the government’s effort to increase the number of medical students. This resulted in the cancellation of surgeries and other medical procedures at hospitals.

The Health Ministry has advised them to resume work immediately, emphasizing that they should not put the lives of patients at risk in their fight against the government.

According to the Health Ministry, as of Monday evening, over 50% of the 13,000 medical interns and residents in South Korea have handed in their resignations, with 1,630 already departing from their work locations. However, none of the resignations have been officially accepted at this time.

Younger physicians are anticipated to imitate this action. According to a ruling by their organization last week, resident doctors at the nation’s top five medical facilities were scheduled to go on strike together on Tuesday.

The main issue revolves around a recent government declaration to increase the number of medical students admitted to universities by 2,000 in the upcoming year, from the current 3,058. The government’s goal is to have a total of 10,000 doctors by 2035 in order to alleviate the shortage of doctors caused by the country’s rapidly aging population.

South Korea has a lower doctor-to-patient ratio compared to other developed countries, specifically in important but lower-paying fields such as pediatrics and emergency care, as well as in rural regions.

Several physicians opposed the proposal, stating that schools would not be equipped to accommodate a large influx of new students and that it is more pressing to allocate funds towards increasing medical fees. Others contend that an excess of doctors could result in unnecessary medical procedures as a result of heightened competition.

“After realizing the failure of a misguided policy that disregards the current situation, I regretfully abandon my aspiration of becoming a pediatric emergency department specialist,” stated Park Dan, leader of the Korean Intern Residents Association, in a Facebook post on Monday. He had already handed in his resignation to Severance Hospital in Seoul. “I have no desire to resume my duties.”

The demonstrations led by doctors have not been successful in gaining the approval of the public, as a survey reveals that approximately 75% of South Koreans are in favor of the government’s efforts to increase the number of trained doctors. Opponents of the doctors claim that their primary concern is a potential decrease in income with a larger pool of doctors.

“I believe that the trainee doctors are advocating for their personal interests,” remarked Seo Hong Soon, a 74-year-old homemaker, during an interview on Tuesday near Seoul National University Hospital. “We urge them to uphold the Hippocratic oath and be willing to compromise. Our hope is that they prioritize their duty above financial gain.”

Many of the 13,000 trainee doctors in South Korea are employed at the country’s 100 teaching hospitals. They assist senior doctors in surgical procedures and provide care for hospitalized patients. According to experts, if these trainee doctors continue to strike or are joined by senior doctors, it could lead to disruptions in medical services across the country.

South Korea currently has a population of 140,000 doctors. On Monday, the Korea Medical Association announced plans to hold demonstrations in support of the trainees, although they have not yet decided if they will also go on strike.

A nurse at Asan Medical Center in Seoul expressed uncertainty about how long senior doctors can continue to perform surgeries and provide treatment without the support of junior doctors. The nurse, who wishes to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the topic, stated that trainees are usually responsible for making incisions and sterilizing during surgeries under the guidance of senior doctors, as well as managing data on hospital computers.

According to her, the hospital intends to postpone admitting certain cancer patients and discharge current patients sooner. Additional officials at Asan Hospital stated on Tuesday that a certain amount of junior physicians did not report to work, although some are still fulfilling their duties. The hospital is adjusting scheduled surgical procedures according to the patients’ conditions.

Park Min-soo, Vice Minister of Health, stated that officials have received a total of 34 grievances from the public regarding the walkouts. Out of these, 25 were in regards to the postponement of surgeries. Other reported incidents include hospitals refusing to provide care for patients and cancelling scheduled medical procedures.

Park stated that leaving patients at risk in order to protest a government policy is never justifiable. He urged trainee doctors to prioritize their patients and not put their lives in danger in order to express their opinions.

Lee Geon-ju, the leader of a group representing individuals with lung cancer, shared a video on YouTube urging medical professionals and government authorities to stop their ongoing conflicts.

Lee, a self-proclaimed terminally ill cancer patient, emphasized the importance of doctors not neglecting patients in order to ensure they receive timely surgeries and treatments.

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The report was aided by Yong Jun Chang, a video journalist from the Associated Press.