Ministry of Health and Welfare Issues Work Commencement Orders to 103 Resident Doctors Who Submitted Resignations... 3 Have Not Returned

103 Residents Who Submitted Resignation but Did Not Actually Work... 100 Have Returned

The Ministry of Health and Welfare's 'Central Accident Response Headquarters for Doctors' Collective Action' announced on the 16th that, following on-site inspections of 12 training hospitals where collective resignation letters from residents were submitted or suspected to have been submitted, resignation letters were actually submitted at 10 hospitals.

As of 6 p.m. that day, a total of 235 resignation letters had been submitted at these hospitals, but it was confirmed that none of the hospitals had accepted them.

On the 16th, residents of the 'Big 5' major hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area, who oppose the government's plan to increase the number of medical students, are submitting resignation letters. Residents are seen moving inside a large hospital in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Among them, 103 residents did not actually work. The rest continued to work even after submitting their resignation letters.

At Catholic University Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, and Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, 48, 29, 25, and 1 resident(s) respectively did not come to work.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare ordered them to commence work in accordance with Article 59 of the Medical Service Act. After confirming whether they returned following the work commencement order, it was confirmed that a total of 100 residents returned.

Three residents?one each from Seoul St. Mary's, Bucheon St. Mary's, and Daejeon St. Mary's hospitals?have not been confirmed to have returned. The Ministry stated that it received certificates of non-compliance with the work commencement order from the training departments of the hospitals to which they belong.

Violation of the work commencement order may result in suspension of medical license qualifications under Article 66 of the Medical Service Act or imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won under Article 88.