Doctors at South Korea’s largest hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area, known as the ‘Big 5,’ have decided to resign in protest against the government’s plans to increase medical school enrollment quotas. The ‘Big 5′ hospitals include Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul Asan Medical Center, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital.
The Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) announced on Feb. 16 that following discussions with representatives from the ‘Big 5′ hospitals, all hospital residents have agreed to submit their resignations by Feb. 19 and will cease working from 6 a.m. on Feb. 20.
Urgent discussions were held by the KIRA and hospital representatives from 11 p.m. on the previous day until 2 a.m. the next day, focusing on how to respond to the government’s plan to expand medical school enrollment quotas. The KIRA plans to establish an emergency committee with representatives from the Big 5 hospitals to determine if all training hospitals will join in submitting resignations.
The Big 5 hospitals, which represent 37% of doctors in Korea, are expected to inspire similar actions from other hospitals nationwide. As interns, residents, and specialists form the core of emergency on-call staff, their departure is anticipated to create a ‘medical vacuum’ and significantly inconvenience patients. During a similar collective action in 2020, over 80% of doctors participated in the collective action, leading to severe disruption. The government eventually retreated from its position.
The government has indicated that doctors participating in collective action may face revocation of their licenses. The Ministry of Health and Welfare intends to issue a ‘return-to-work order’ for doctors exiting the field and will discipline those who do not comply.
The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which organized nationwide rallies on Feb. 16, is set to hold an emergency committee meeting on Feb. 17 to discuss a detailed plan of action and future strategy to oppose the medical school enrollment quota expansion. A poll of all members is planned to decide on collective action.
Previously, on Feb. 6, the Ministries of Health and Welfare and Education announced a plan to expand the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats, from the current 3,058 to 5,058, starting with the 2025 entrance exam. This marks the first increase in 27 years since 1998.
Public opinion strongly supports the increase. According to a Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union poll last December, 89.3% of respondents favored the increase in medical school seats, while 85.6% opposed the KMA’s decision to refuse medical treatment or take collective leave.
