SEOUL, South Korea: Amid a prolonged strike by junior medics in South Korea, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced on Friday that the country would institute a rigorous vetting process to permit doctors from abroad to practice in its hospitals.
The strike, initiated on February 20 to protest government plans to increase doctor training, has caused significant disruptions in hospital services.
In response to the ongoing standoff, the government has offered concessions, including permitting doctors with foreign medical licenses to practice in South Korea.
However, this move has sparked controversy following a social media post by the head of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), Lim Hyun-taek, which was criticized for its racist undertones.
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Prime Minister Han emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring a robust safety system to prevent unqualified foreign doctors from treating the population.
Meanwhile, negotiations between the government and striking doctors have reached an impasse, with the health ministry’s offer to scale back proposed medical training reforms rejected by the doctors. The strikers demand the complete abandonment of plans to increase the number of doctors, arguing against shortages and the need to care for an ageing population.
The dispute over the government’s medical plan is now in the hands of the Seoul High Court, with doctors and medical students challenging its necessity. While an administrative court has ruled in favor of the government, the decision from the Seoul High Court is anticipated next week, as reported by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
