Doctors in South Korea staged a one-day strike on Tuesday, joining a months-long protest against the government’s health care policies. The strike, organized by the Korean Medical Association, saw physicians from medical facilities across the country walk off the job in solidarity.
The protest began in February when residents and interns at major hospitals stopped working in response to the government’s announcement of new health care policies, including plans to expand admissions to medical schools. The doctors argue that the policies were drafted without consulting them and would not address the underlying issues in the health care system.
South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, expressed disappointment over the strike, calling it “very disappointing and unfortunate.” The strike comes on the heels of a work stoppage by medical professors at Seoul National University Hospital and other major facilities.
Patients like 84-year-old Yang Myoung-joo, who had her appointment canceled at Seoul National University Hospital, are feeling the impact of the strike. She questioned whether going on strike was the right decision for doctors who deal with people’s lives.
The government has deployed military doctors and asked nurses to take on additional tasks to fill the gap in services caused by the strike. Prime Minister Han Duk-soo criticized the doctors’ actions, saying it destroys the trust between doctors and patients built over decades.
The Korean Medical Association’s president, Lim Hyun-taek, accused the government of ignoring the challenges faced by doctors, such as grueling work hours and low pay in essential fields like pediatrics. The association has demanded the government scrap its medical school expansion plan, but the government has maintained that the admissions quota for 2025 is non-negotiable.
As the strike continues, patients are growing exasperated and losing hope for a swift resolution. With both sides showing no signs of backing down, the future of South Korea’s healthcare system remains uncertain.
