Trainee doctors in South Korea are taking a stand against the government’s decision to expand medical school admissions by 2000, prompting them to submit resignation letters in protest.
As the medical shortage evolves into a full-blown healthcare crisis, the government raised the public health and medical crisis to the highest level of ‘severe’ on Feb. 23. In response to the collective outcry from trainee doctors, the government has also opted to permit nationwide telemedicine until the conclusion of their protest. While the crisis level reached ‘severe’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first instance it has been elevated to this level due to a healthcare crisis.
ChosunBiz conducted interviews with trainee doctors to hear their side of the story.
# Trainee doctor A in radiology
The decision to resign stemmed from my belief that continuing as a trainee doctor would hold little purpose if the expansion of medical schools proceeds. Departing from a workplace I cherish was difficult, but it was made not solely as a doctor, but as an individual in the workforce.
It’s disheartening to see politicians exploit healthcare policies, which hold immense potential to affect everyone’s lives, for their own gain ahead of upcoming elections. Rather than seeking immediate gratification, I urge people to carefully consider the perspectives of healthcare experts.
There’s no shortage of doctors at present. The issue lies in the lack of trainee doctors willing to work extensively for lower wages and specialists who persevere despite facing legal challenges. While hospitals need to hire more specialists, overreliance on inexpensive trainee doctors leads to discussions about staffing shortages. The medical system should not be paralyzed simply because trainee doctors resign while still in their learning phase.
Some argue that trainee doctors oppose expansion due to financial reasons. However, since medical fees are regulated by law, increasing the number of doctors won’t affect these fees. Moreover, if each doctor increases their patient load, it will only hasten the depletion of national health insurance funds projected for 2028.
The reason I pursued a career as a trainee doctor was to learn and contribute to society. If the government’s policy is enacted, I fear I’ll only provide labor for four years with no job prospects afterward. This could lead to closures of individual clinics and small hospitals, with trainee doctors left waiting for a limited number of professor positions, while being replaced by newly graduated doctors each year.
I apologize for any inconvenience caused to the public. But we are also individuals who worry about the future of our workplaces. We also fear that if the government’s policy is implemented, our country’s healthcare system, currently esteemed globally, may collapse.
We hope that the public will consider our concerns, even as we step back from our duties. We also hope for a swift resolution to the situation, allowing us to return to our workplaces as soon as possible.
# Trainee doctor B in pediatrics
I served as a trainee doctor in pediatrics, a department often avoided by many, at a metropolitan university hospital for three years. Recently, I made the decision to resign, opting not to renew my contract.
I was initially drawn to pediatrics due to my belief in its importance. Children often exhibit remarkable resilience, with even the most severely ill patients recovering swiftly and leaving the hospital, which brought me immense satisfaction. Witnessing the transformation of scared, crying children on their first day into smiling, happy individuals upon discharge, alongside the joyous reactions of their guardians, underscored the profound value of my work.
I still remember the reactions I received when I expressed my desire to specialize in pediatrics. At the time, my academic performance was strong, leading many peers, juniors, and seniors to question my decision, expressing concerns about the challenges associated with pediatrics, including the high volume of litigation.
Nevertheless, I remained steadfast in my choice of pediatrics, enduring almost non-stop challenges for three years. The workload was overwhelming, with piles of studying, frequent night shifts averaging up to 12 times a month, 36-hour continuous shifts, and sudden emergencies like seizures and cardiac arrests. Despite hoping that things would ease with more experience and the arrival of new colleagues, no new recruits ever joined the team.
I started to find myself questioning whether to continue along this path. I observed senior colleagues grappling with career decisions due to a lack of clear options. Some were even transitioning to adult medicine, believing pediatric care held no future. News of lawsuits and hefty compensations flooded in, along with tales of intense competition among peers and juniors for other popular department positions.
On top of that, neighboring medical facilities started limiting or shutting down their pediatric emergency services one after another because fewer pediatric trainee doctors were entering the field. This placed additional strain on our hospital, which struggled to keep up with the growing influx of children seeking treatment.
I persisted with the mindset that meaningful endeavors are often accompanied by challenges. Above all, receiving expressions of gratitude from patients upon their discharge served as a significant source of motivation for me. I also maintained a belief that the government would surely come up with solutions.
So upon hearing the announcement of the government’s new policy, I was devastated. Professionals across various fields agreed that the policy was absurd. However, as news stories poured in, trainee doctors were already being demonized in the eyes of the public.
My wife’s pregnancy was the final straw for me. So many questions kept me up at night. Questions like, ‘Despite our hospital consistently lacking pediatric applicants, will increasing students attract more applicants?’ ‘Criminal prosecution and investigations are usually targeted at criminals, so does that make me a criminal?’ ‘While the government claims to preserve essential healthcare, can’t changes be made immediately instead of waiting six years?’ ‘If my wife quits her job, how will we sustain ourselves on my current trainee doctor salary?’
I ultimately decided to submit my resignation letter. Fortunately, the hospital I worked at had already adjusted its system to function without pediatric trainee doctors, ensuring minimal disruption to patient care.
However, on a personal level, I remain deeply disheartened and continue to question the purpose of my journey thus far. Despite dedicating myself to frontline essential medical care for three years and experiencing many fulfilling moments, the recurring threat of license revocation has led me to conclude that this path is not worth pursuing, as it brings concerns about my family’s livelihood.
