Catherwood LibraryILR School

Junior doctors and residents in South Korea have been on strike for weeks, and the South Korean government has stated that it will begin to suspend medical licenses in response to the strike. Around twelve thousand junior doctors and residents have been on strike in response to the government’s announcement that the enrollment quota for doctors in South Korea will increase by one thousand. Doctors have expressed opposition to this decision, claiming that the change will negatively affect the quality of healthcare because universities cannot abruptly teach a large increase in medical students. The government set a February 29th deadline for junior doctors and residents to return to work, and the individuals who defied the deadline will receive suspension of their license. The minimum suspension is three months, and the country can give out longer suspension periods and other consequences if deemed necessary. Many senior doctors at major hospitals have stated that they will resign to express solidarity for the junior doctors and residents on strike, and this could disrupt healthcare in South Korea even further.