Medical professors seek to join mass resignations

Bang Jae-seung, who heads the emergency response committee of the council of Seoul National University's medical professors, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

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.

Professors from medical schools, including those at Seoul National University (SNU), have warned of collective action, raising concerns that striking trainee doctors may face repercussions. The government has labeled the walkouts illegal and is taking steps to suspend their licenses.

Over 90 percent of the country’s 13,000 trainee doctors, comprising interns and resident doctors, have embarked on a mass resignation for more than three weeks to protest the government’s decision to increase the number of medical students from the current 3,058 to 5,058 next year.

Many medical students have also applied for leaves of absence or boycotted classes in protest.

Medical professors at SNU have unanimously decided to submit resignations en masse next Monday unless the government presents what they called “rational measures” to address the ongoing situation.

On Tuesday, these professors hinted at what they consider rational measures, proposing that the government postpone the decision on the medical school quota hike until next year. Additionally, they suggested forming a panel composed of government officials, politicians, professors, doctors and public representatives to generate more ideas aimed at revitalizing essential treatment fields such as pediatrics and emergency medicine.

“We call on the government to commission a credible foreign institution to analyze Korea’s health and medical indicators and make a decision on the quota hike after a year, based on the results of this analysis,” Bang Jae-seung, who heads the emergency response committee of the council of SNU's medical professors, said during a press conference at the National Assembly.

News about the protracted clash between the government and doctors over medical school quota hikes is seen on a television at a hospital in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The Medical Professors Association of Korea (MPAK), representing professors from 33 medical schools nationwide, also vowed to "hold the government responsible if the ongoing situation causes harm to trainee doctors and medical students."

MPAK said in a statement, “An increasing number of medical professors will voluntary resign, and this will lead to the collapse of the country’s health care system and medical education,” urging the government to open dialogue without imposing any conditions.

On March 7, medical professors at the University of Ulsan agreed to tender their resignations en masse to protest the government’s administrative measures targeting striking doctors.

Despite escalating concerns over the prolonged standoff between the government and the medical community, President Yoon Suk Yeol, later on Tuesday, directed government officials to "adhere to principles and promptly advance medical reform measures," which include the medical school quota hike, according to spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung.

During a meeting with senior secretaries, Yoon also emphasized the importance of thorough preparations to ensure that patients in emergency and critical condition can receive proper treatment.

In response to the possibility of collective action by professors, Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong expressed deep concern, stating that such action "will put the lives of patients at risk."

"Another mass resignation will not be able to gain the support of the public," Cho said during a government meeting on the issue.

The minister reiterated that the government will maintain a firm stance, emphasizing that the principle to hold trainee doctors accountable "for their wrongful behavior" remains unchanged.

He said the ministry has issued prior notice to 5,556 striking doctors regarding their violation of the Medical Service Act. This procedure aims to provide them with an opportunity to express their opinions before their licenses are suspended.

Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo noted that medical professors are part of the entire body of medical professionals, thus the government, according to the Medical Service Act, can issue an order to them to maintain their duties, if they too stage a walkout.

“We are reviewing that, although it’s not the right time to say whether we will issue such an order,” Park said during a media briefing.

Regarding the SNU professors’ proposal to delay the decision on the medical school quota hike, the health ministry said the policy cannot be put off any longer.