South Korean Doctors Condition Walkout on Government Acceptance of Demands

SEOUL — South Korea’s largest doctors’ group, the Korean Medical Association (KMA), has proposed a conditional suspension of their planned mass walkout, set to begin this week, contingent on the government meeting three specific demands. The strike, involving medical professionals from major hospitals and community doctors across Seoul, is slated to support trainee doctors who have been off the job since February due to disagreements over medical school admission policies.

According to Philippines News Agency, the government has until 11 p.m. Sunday to address their demands, which include a reevaluation of the planned increase in medical school admissions, modifications to the policy package for essential medical services, and the cancellation of all penalties imposed on trainee doctors. Should the government comply, the KMA plans to conduct a vote among its members on Monday to decide whether the walkout scheduled for Tuesday will proceed.

The potential strike threatens to include medical professors from Seoul’s “Big 5” hospitals and is anticipated to affect a wide range of medical services throughout the city. The KMA has clearly stated that failure by the government to meet their conditions will result in the walkout proceeding as planned, on an indefinite basis.