[Report] Hospitals Losing Residents, Desperate Patients... "Who Should We Blame?"

Patients Visiting Hospitals Early
Worried About Not Receiving Timely Treatment
Patients Awaiting Surgery Also Anxious
"Only Patients Are Vulnerable" Voices of Criticism

At 7:30 a.m. on the 20th, at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Choi (32), a family member of a patient who visited the hospital, said, "I saw the news that residents are not coming to the hospital. Since my father had many tests, I thought it might take a long time, so I came early."

On this day, medical consultations began at 8 a.m. However, the hospital was crowded with people long before the consultation hours. Anxiety about hospital treatment made patients hurry.

On the 20th, patients and guardians have been waiting for medical consultations and other services since early morning at a university hospital in Seoul.
[Photo by Shim Seong-ah]

The chaotic situation became a reality as residents collectively resigned in protest against the government's expansion of medical school quotas. Patients were anxious about not being able to receive timely treatment. Many patients and guardians were aware of the residents' resignation submissions.

Yu (76), who was sitting in a wheelchair on the first floor, said, "I'm worried because there are no residents, but I don't know who to blame," and gave a bitter smile, adding, "Aren't patients the vulnerable ones?"

Park (39), whom we met at the pediatric ward of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "Yesterday, I went to remove a device implanted in my child's body, but I had to wait about 30 minutes because the nurse and resident couldn't communicate," expressing frustration, "Guardians trust them desperately and receive treatment, but this situation seems unacceptable."

Yu (40), a guardian of a child awaiting transplantation, also said, "I understand the residents' position, but I'm worried about how far the professors can cover," adding, "Residents handle the basics, so if this situation continues, it will be difficult."

On the 20th, residents at the Big 5 hospitals stopped working as of 6 a.m., and citizens visiting an emergency treatment center in Seoul are turning away. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The situation was similar at Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where the most residents submitted resignation letters. Lee Young-nan (67), who visited the hospital early in the morning, said, "I went to a local clinic because of my kidney, and they wrote a referral letter, so I came here, where I can get treatment the fastest among large hospitals."

He said, "I might need kidney surgery, but the timing coincides with the residents' strike, so my heart is burning. For now, I'm waiting blindly, having been here since 7 a.m."

Most of the patients here were those undergoing health checkups who were not directly affected by the residents' mass resignation news that had been circulating since the day before. The emergency room was full the previous day, and additional admissions were not accepted from the morning.

In fact, the reception area in front of the cancer center was quiet compared to the previous day, and those waiting were only patients and guardians with pre-scheduled checkups. Park (30), who was waiting with a guardian in their 60s, said, "I heard that over 600 people resigned yesterday, but since it was a pre-scheduled checkup, no cancellation calls came," adding, "Still, just in case, I came an hour early since registration starts at 8:30 a.m."

On the 20th, residents at one of the Big 5 hospitals stopped working at 6 a.m., and citizens visiting an emergency care center in Seoul turned away. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Some patients showed displeasure at the residents' collective resignation. Lee (69) said, "I come for regular checkups every six months, so I wasn't too worried, but those who have surgery or urgent needs must be anxious," criticizing, "This is a matter of people's lives, but it seems to have become politicized, which makes me unhappy. It's a problem if such incidents keep repeating at the expense of lives."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that as of 11 p.m. on the 19th, 6,415 residents, accounting for 55% of the total residents at 100 major training hospitals, had submitted resignation letters, but none had been accepted. About 1,630 residents, approximately 25% of those who submitted resignations, had left their hospitals. As of 6 p.m. on the same day, the Medical Staff Collective Action Damage Report and Support Center had received a total of 34 damage reports, including 25 surgery cancellations, 4 appointment cancellations, 3 refusals of treatment, and 2 delays in hospitalization.