Health and Medical Workers' Union Begins General Strike for the First Time in 19 Years... Chaos Already in Medical Sites

The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) launched a general strike at 7 a.m. on the 13th, demanding an increase in medical personnel and other issues. With 45,000 workers from 140 medical institutions nationwide participating in the large-scale strike?the first in 19 years?confusion is intensifying among medical sites, patients, and their guardians. Hospitals participating in the strike are maintaining essential medical services such as emergency rooms, intensive care units, and delivery rooms, but delays in treatment are expected to be unavoidable.

On the 12th, one day before the general strike of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, a large poster related to the strike was posted at Ewha Mokdong Hospital in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

"We deeply apologize for patient inconvenience"... Treatment gaps unavoidable

According to the health and medical sector on the 13th, the National Medical Center issued a statement titled "A Message to Patients and Guardians" under the name of Director Joo Young-soo, expressing apologies for the disruption in medical services caused by the KHMU strike. The National Medical Center had previously posted a notice on its website asking for understanding as quick reservation services might be delayed due to the strike. Director Joo stated, "Essential medical departments such as emergency rooms, intensive care units, outpatient clinics, and operating rooms will operate normally," but added, "Due to staff shortages, delays in treatment and other issues may occur, and as the director of the National Medical Center, I am deeply sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."

Among the 45 advanced general hospitals nationwide, 18 are participating in this strike. The so-called 'Big 5'?Seoul Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital?are not participating. However, among metropolitan advanced general hospitals, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University Guro Hospital, Ewha Mokdong Hospital, Hanyang University Hospital, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ajou University Hospital, and Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital (Pyeongchon) are participating. Additionally, among regional advanced general hospitals, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital (Gangwon), Dankook University Hospital (Chungnam), Chungnam National University Hospital (Daejeon), Wonkwang University Hospital and Jeonbuk National University Hospital (Jeonbuk), Chonnam National University Hospital and Chosun University Hospital (Gwangju), Yeungnam University Hospital (Daegu), Pusan National University Hospital (Busan), and Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital (Gyeongnam) are participating. Furthermore, 26 regional medical center branches are joining the strike, raising concerns about regional medical service gaps.

The National Cancer Center had already postponed all 100 scheduled surgeries on the 13th and 14th, the days the KHMU general strike was announced. Due to staff shortages and limited available beds, it was judged that even if surgeries were performed, subsequent hospitalization would be difficult. Pusan National University Hospital and Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital discharged or transferred inpatients, causing significant inconvenience to patients. A representative from a metropolitan university hospital said, "There are currently no plans to cancel surgeries or reduce inpatients," but added, "We will monitor the strike situation and respond accordingly."

Members of the Health and Medical Workers' Union are shouting slogans demanding the expansion of medical personnel and support for infectious disease-dedicated hospitals at the eve of the general strike held on the afternoon of the 12th at Ewha Seoul Hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

"A strike to save the people" vs. "Political strike"

Although the KHMU announced an 'indefinite' strike, in practice, it is focusing its efforts on the two days of the 13th and 14th. On the afternoon of the 13th, they gathered in front of Donghwa Duty-Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to hold a 'Sector-wide General Strike Rally,' and on the 14th, they will hold major strike rallies in four locations: Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, and Sejong. This general strike by the KHMU is the first in 19 years since the strike demanding the full introduction of the five-day workweek in 2004. Previously, in September 2021, a general strike was announced but was withdrawn just before it began due to a dramatic agreement between the government and the union.

The union has demanded ▲ full expansion of integrated nursing and caregiving services to address high caregiving costs ▲ institutionalization of a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:5 and establishment of appropriate staffing standards for patient safety ▲ expansion of medical personnel to eradicate unlicensed illegal medical practice ▲ expansion of public healthcare responsible for essential medical services ▲ support for recovery hospitals to normalize COVID-19 dedicated hospitals ▲ fair compensation for COVID-19 heroes ▲ implementation of the September 2 government-labor agreement. The union argues that they had no choice but to strike because treatment improvements have not been properly implemented and public healthcare is in crisis. Na Soon-ja, chairperson of the KHMU, stated, "This general strike is a strike to protect the safety of citizens."

On the other hand, the government criticizes this general strike as a 'political strike.' On the 10th, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, "We must not join the political strike of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions that ignores the lives and health of the people." Park Min-soo, the second vice minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, also criticized the strike during a meeting with heads of advanced general hospitals participating in the strike, saying, "At a time when the government is promoting various policies to improve the medical field, a strike that could cause serious harm to patients' lives and health, citing the timing of government policy implementation, is unjustifiable," and urged, "The KHMU should withdraw the strike plan and stay by the patients' side."