Although Ryu Ok Hada, a South Korean trainee doctor, has always desired to help people, he has left his employment and is currently standing outside the hospital where he worked while clutching his medical robe. In a conflict with the government that has threatened to jail them, over 7,800 interns and residents have quit, including Park Dan, who recently fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming an emergency physician. According to Ryu and Park, junior doctors—a vital component of South Korea’s well-regarded healthcare system—are overworked, underpaid, and ignored.
Following the protests this month by nearly two-thirds of the nation’s young doctors, hospitals have turned away patients and cancelled surgeries. Instead of walking out, prominent medical professionals and private practitioners have organized protests, with 400 of them congregating in Seoul on Sunday to call on the government to abandon its proposal.
“The current medical system in South Korea, which is a great one, is run by making cheap trainee doctors keep grinding,” Ryu, 25, said.
The government’s intention to increase the number of doctors should not take precedence over the young doctors’ demands regarding their working conditions and remuneration, they say. However, according to the authorities, in order to fulfil the increasing demands of one of the world’s fastest-aging populations and expand healthcare services in rural locations, additional staff members are required.
However, a recent Gallup Korea poll revealed that 76% of respondents, regardless of party affiliation, support the government’s intention to increase admissions to medical schools.
