The South Korean government has issued a stern warning to approximately 7,800 striking medical interns and residents to immediately resume their duties or face legal consequences. The collective walkouts by junior doctors have resulted in the cancellation of surgeries and disruptions in hospital operations across the country.
The strike was initiated in response to the government's proposal to increase the medical school admissions cap by 2,000 students to address the challenges posed by South Korea's aging population. However, doctors' groups have raised concerns about the quality of education that universities can provide to such a large influx of students. They argue that an oversupply of doctors could lead to unnecessary medical treatments and higher public medical expenses.
