South Korean police conducted a search of the office and residence of Lim Hyun-taek, the incoming leader of the Korean Medical Association. They confiscated his mobile phone and other materials. Lim’s office criticized the raid as politically motivated. Lim is one of five officials under investigation for allegedly inciting and abetting strikes by medical interns and residents. The strikes, which began in February, have caused cancellations and delays in medical treatment, leading to growing public calls for a compromise. In response, the government offered to adjust its plan to increase medical school enrollment by allowing universities to lower admissions by up to 50% next year.
However, Lim and other doctors want the government to completely scrap the enrollment hike plan, with no increase in the number of students. They also seek the removal of top officials involved in the admissions plan. Doctors argue that an abrupt increase in students would overwhelm schools and ultimately harm the country’s medical services. The government contends that adding more doctors is necessary due to the aging population and low doctor-to-population ratio in South Korea. Critics suggest that doctors’ concerns about competition and lower income in the future are the real motivations behind the strikes.
Senior doctors at university hospitals, where the striking junior doctors work, have threatened to resign in support of the strikes. They argue that the departure of junior partners has led to overwork for senior doctors. Despite these threats, the government has not found any hospitals planning to accept the resignations. The deepening medical impasse has resulted in delays and cancellations of medical treatment, prompting public concern over the situation. The government is urging dialogue to end the strikes, but doctors question the sincerity of the government’s offer for talks given the recent police raid on Lim’s office.
The ongoing strikes have underscored the tensions between medical professionals and the government over the plan to increase medical school enrollment. The police raid on Lim and other officials has further escalated the situation, with doctors accusing the government of political suppression. The strikes have raised questions about the readiness of medical schools to accommodate more students and the potential impact on the quality of medical services. As the impasse continues, there is a growing sense of urgency to find a compromise to resolve the conflict between doctors and the government.
