Korea University medical professors to begin indefinite strike on July 12

Social Affairs

Published: 01 Jul. 2024, 17:57

Korea University medical professors to begin indefinite strike on July 12

Patients inside Korea University Anam Hospital in Seongbuk District in central Seoul on Monday [YONHAP]

Medical professors at Korea University will begin an indefinite strike starting July 12, its professorial committee said Monday.

The strike is expected to affect patient care at the university’s three affiliated hospitals: Korea University Anam Hospital in Seongbuk District in central Seoul, Korea University Guro Hospital in Guro District in western Seoul and Korea University Ansan Hospital in Gyeonggi.

The professors said the “indefinite and voluntary strike will impact regular treatments except for emergency or critically ill patients.”

In a statement released on the same day, the committee urged the government to halt the “suppression of medical students and junior doctors” and “communicate with [the health care community] by proactively accepting demands from junior doctors.”

The "suppression" refers to administrative penalties that could be imposed on junior doctors who have refused to return to their posts since their walkout began in February.

The committee added that the National Assembly public hearing on June 26 prompted the professors to strike. It also accused the government of a “unilateral decision-making process.”

On June 26, officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and representatives of doctors' groups attended the parliamentary public hearing, where they clashed over the increase in admissions slots in medical schools.

“The National Assembly hearing revealed that the admissions quota expansion in medical schools was decided without consultations with the medical community,” the professors wrote. They claimed the government “ignored doctors' concerns and criticism regarding the appropriateness of increasing the enrollment slots."

The professors said the government's behavior "induced junior doctors to participate in a collective action."

The medical professors blamed the government for suggesting “shallow alternatives to unrealistic educational policy.” They said the government has no detailed budget to manage education for the expanded incoming class for the 2025 academic year.

Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Medical Association, answers a lawmaker’s query during a public hearing at the National Assembly in western Seoul, last Wednesday. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, front left, and Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo sit in front of Lim. [YONHAP]

The indefinite strike at Korea University’s hospitals is the country's fourth such walkout, following the second and ongoing strike at Yonsei University’s Severance Hospitals — which began last Thursday — and the third and expected strike at Asan Medical Center led by medical faculty at the University of Ulsan slated to start Thursday.

The nation’s first indefinite medical professorial strike was at Seoul National University’s four affiliated hospitals, which started on June 17 and ended on June 21.

Medical professors at Samsung Medical Center and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital decided to postpone planned strikes indefinitely.

On Monday, medical professors at Chungbuk National University Hospital in North Chungcheong decided to launch an indefinite strike starting July 26. However, they said treatment for inpatients and critically ill patients would continue as usual.

A total of 84 professors, or 62.7 percent of 134 respondents, voted on a motion to launch an indefinite strike. Some 91 professors abstained from voting.

As doctors' strikes spread nationwide, patients' concerns are growing.

The Korea Alliance of Patients Organization will hold a rally on Thursday in Jongno District in central Seoul to ask doctors to stop striking and return to hospitals. The protest also aims to motivate the government to "legislate a bill that can prevent hospital closures."

A press release from the patients' group said, "Patients will no longer tolerate a conflict between government and medical sector where both sides condemn each other rather than discussing solutions to end the standoff."

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]