Korea abandons plans to suspend striking doctors’ licenses due to health care staffing crisis

The Korean government said on Monday that it would withdraw its punitive measures against striking junior doctors, such as suspension of their licenses, citing ongoing disruption to medical care following five months of mass resignations by junior doctors.

Almost all junior doctors, i.e. around 13,000 physicians, are on strike, which is leading to delays in operating rooms and restrictions in the outpatient sector at the major university hospitals.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said during a press conference that the government’s decision was influenced by recommendations from health experts and challenges in the health sector.

“Based on input from medical education experts and the current challenges in the health sector, we have decided not to impose administrative measures on all residents starting Monday, regardless of their return status,” Cho said.

“We will introduce special training provisions for junior doctors who wish to return after their termination in September or who wish to reapply for training,” he added. “These measures will be adjusted annually to minimise training gaps and ensure timely specialist qualification.”

This decision follows the adoption of a recommendation by the Medical Training Environment Evaluation Committee, headed by Minister Cho, last Friday to suspend punitive measures against junior doctors and introduce tailored training measures for those returning to duty in the second half of this year.

“The government has made this difficult decision after careful consideration, prioritizing the continuity of specialist training and minimizing disruptions in the care of critical and emergency patients, and guided by the overall public interest,” Cho said. “We call on hospitals to complete the resignation process for non-returning residents and confirm vacancies by next Monday.”

According to the government’s plan, teaching hospitals are to accept all resignations of junior doctors by July 15, confirm the number of vacancies and begin recruiting junior doctors for the new medical training program starting in September by July 22.