South Korea’s medical community is pushing back against the military command’s first martial law decree issued late on Dec. 3, which included an order for striking or absent medical professionals, including residents, to return to work within 48 hours. The decree warned violators of punishment under martial law.
The command’s wording, including the use of terms such as “severe punishment,” has drawn sharp criticism. Medical groups argue that most residents had already resigned in June, meaning they were not “absent” from their duties. The rhetoric, they said, was unnecessarily extreme and inflammatory.
The emergency committee of The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine released a statement on Dec. 4 condemning the directive, saying, “The martial law proclamation has labeled doctors as targets for punishment. Are doctors being treated as anti-state forces?” The group further called for President Yoon Suk-yeol to resign immediately, accusing him of committing treason and demanding he face justice.
The emergency committee of Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital also criticized the decree, arguing that doctors who resigned had already terminated their contracts and therefore could not be classified as striking or abandoning their posts. The committee stated, “Despite the confusion caused by the undemocratic martial law declaration, we medical professionals will continue to protect patients’ health and uphold the rights of medical workers.”
Residents have also expressed their frustration. Park Dan, head of the Korean Intern and Resident Association’s emergency committee, shared his reaction on social media on Dec. 3, saying, “As a citizen of this country, I feel a profound sense of despair at President Yoon’s anti-democratic actions. I have no place to return to.” Park added, “If innocent people are harmed due to this martial law, I will do everything I can as a doctor to care for them, anywhere and anytime. Enough with this dictatorship—step down.”
The crisis has heightened concerns about disruptions to residency recruitment for the first half of 2024. With fewer than 10% of residents currently working and low application rates for the national medical licensing exam, experts predict further complications in resolving the ongoing standoff.
Applications for residency programs will be accepted until Dec. 9, with written exams and interviews scheduled before results are announced on Dec. 19. However, the martial law declaration is expected to exacerbate the conflict between the government and the medical sector.
