Doctors’ strike in South Korea: ‘Severe’ public health alert issued for the first time

South Korea has raised its public health warning to ‘severe’ for the first time after thousands of doctors went on strike to protest government recruitment plans, in a dispute that shows no sign of resolution.

The strike by 8,400 doctors began to impact medical services, with major general hospitals forced to cancel up to 50% of surgeries and turn away patients needing emergency care, according to Yonhap news agency.

According to media reports, all emergency departments except one of the country’s largest hospitals were on alert as doctors warned they would continue their strike action.

The doctors are protesting against plans to increase the number of doctors in training to increase the number of doctors in essential healthcare sectors such as paediatrics, obstetrics and emergency care.

The strikers, who represent almost two-thirds of the country’s residents and trainees, insist they are campaigning for higher wages and reductions in their workload, and not against the planned recruitment campaign.

But they have also opposed the hiring plans, claiming there are already enough doctors and that additional recruitment would compromise the quality of medical care.

In response, the government has said more doctors will be needed to meet future healthcare challenges posed by South Korea’s rapidly aging society. The government has predicted that by 2025, more than a fifth of the population of 51 million people will be over 64 years old.

The Health Ministry said it had decided for the first time to “raise the healthcare disaster alert from cautious to serious”, citing the “intensifying” strike and growing concerns about its impact on public health.

South Koreans awaiting medical care expressed dismay over the dispute, in which both sides have so far refused to compromise.

“If the government really cares about its people, I hope they step back now, and doctors also step back, so that patients don’t suffer pain,” a 34-year-old office worker with a broken leg told Reuters.

The patient, who asked to be identified only by his surname Kim, said he was rejected by three hospitals before finally being treated at a public medical center in Seoul.

“Doctors are supposed to treat patients, so it seems unreasonable for them to go on strike,” said Kim, whose broken leg requires surgery.

Another patient, Lee Joo-hyung, said he could have gotten treatment for his asthma, but worried he would have difficulty finding a doctor for his next appointment in three months.

“So many doctors have resigned, so we don’t know what will happen,” the 31-year-old teacher said. “I’m really worried.”

The doctors left their jobs on Tuesday in defiance of government orders to return to work, facing punishment and even arrest.

Park Dan, head of the Korea Interns and Residents Association, said he was prepared to be arrested. “Everyone is angry and frustrated, so we’re all leaving our hospitals. Please listen to our voices,” Park said in a radio interview, adding that the strikers were open to talks provided the government was willing to listen to their demands.

Many South Koreans support the government’s hiring plans. A recent Gallup Korea poll found that 76% of respondents were in favor of increasing hiring.