South Korea - The Korea Times

Gov't, medical community clash over international labor rules

The government and the medical community hold highly divergent views on whether a back-to-work order imposed on striking trainee doctors, protesting a medical school quota hike policy, violates international labor standards.

Mar 14, 2024By Jun Ji-hye

Gov't, medical community clash over international labor rules

Prime minister defends ex-defense chief, reiterates calls for prompt medical reform

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has defended former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, who left hastily for Australia to take up his post as Seoul’s new ambassador to Canberra despite being a suspect in an investigation into the death of a Marine, adding that Lee’s appointment and departure won’t cause any disruptions to the judicial proceedings by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

Mar 13, 2024By Kwak Yeon-soo

Prime minister defends ex-defense chief, reiterates calls for prompt medical reform

Medical professors seek to join mass resignations

Medical professors across the country are threatening to tender their resignations en masse as doctors continue to resist the government's plans to increase medical school enrollment quotas to address an apparent shortage of physicians in rural regions.

Mar 12, 2024By Jun Ji-hye

Medical professors seek to join mass resignations

3 leaders of doctors' group attend police questioning over walkout

Three incumbent and former officials of the Korea Medical Association (KMA) appeared before police Tuesday for questioning over allegations that they instigated the mass walkout by trainee doctors.

Mar 12, 2024

3 leaders of doctors' group attend police questioning over walkout

Medical professors threaten collective action in event of damage to trainee doctors, students

Gov't deploys military doctors to address medical service disruptions

The government on Monday began deploying 158 military and public health doctors to hospitals affected by a nationwide walkout staged by thousands of trainee doctors, in a bid to make up for the shortage of medical staff and minimize disruptions to medical services.

Mar 11, 2024By Jun Ji-hye

Gov't deploys military doctors to address medical service disruptions

Health minister voices leniency for defiant trainee doctors

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said Monday the government will take lenient measures if trainee doctors return to work before administrative procedures to suspend their licenses are completed, although they defied a deadline to avoid punitive steps.

Mar 11, 2024

Health minister voices leniency for defiant trainee doctors

Health service disruptions widen as walkout by trainee doctors enters 20th day

A mass walkout by about 12,000 trainee doctors entered its 20th day Sunday and caused wider disruptions in health care services across South Korea, prompting the government to implement emergency policies to make up for the shortage of medical staff.

Mar 10, 2024

Health service disruptions widen as walkout by trainee doctors enters 20th day

Government set to complete sending 1st suspension notice to striking doctors

The Korean government is expected to wrap up sending out the first notice of its plan to suspend the medical licenses of striking trainee doctors next week as part of its disciplinary action against them, sources said Saturday.

Mar 9, 2024

Government set to complete sending 1st suspension notice to striking doctors

Japanese candy tests positive for radioactive material before being imported to Korea

A small amount of cesium, a type of radioactive material, was detected in a Japanese confectionery product slated for import to Korea, prompting the importer to cancel its plans, the food safety agency here said Friday.

Mar 8, 2024

Japanese candy tests positive for radioactive material before being imported to Korea

Seoul city to provide 3.1 bil. won to private hospitals for emergency medical staff

The Seoul city government will provide 3.1 billion won ($2.3 million) in financial assistance to help private hospitals hire emergency replacement medical staff in the aftermath of the protracted mass walkout by trainee doctors, the mayor said Friday.