Hong Joon-pyo: "I hope Daegu Medical Center respects and accepts the resignation letters of the four doctors who submitted them"

Four Residents at Daegu Medical Center Submit Resignation Letters
"No Major Issues Even If Resignations Are Accepted"

As collective actions by doctors and medical students opposing the government's plan to increase medical school quotas intensify, Hong Jun-pyo, mayor of Daegu, expressed his position, stating, "I hope the resignation letters of four residents at Daegu Medical Center are accepted in respect of their wishes."

Reporter Dongju Yoon doso7@

On the 21st, Mayor Hong wrote on his Facebook, "At Daegu Medical Center, four out of five residents submitted resignation letters, but even if all are accepted, it is said that there will be no significant disruption to patient care," adding, "I have instructed to negotiate with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to allow the acceptance of resignation letters according to the circumstances of each medical institution."

In the case of local medical centers, the appointment authority for residents lies with the director of the medical center appointed by the metropolitan government head. Accordingly, the Daegu city department in charge decided to discuss with the Ministry of Health and Welfare whether the resignation letters can be accepted.

Regarding the conflict between doctors and the government over the issue of increasing medical school quotas, Mayor Hong mentioned, "It is concerning that the doctors' determination to protect their professional domain and the authorities' lack of persuasion have clashed," and added, "I regret that the authorities did not proceed with the increase in medical school quotas gradually, and that the residents were not more cautious about the strike."

He continued, "It is also insufficient to analyze why doctors do not apply for departments such as obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics and to establish countermeasures, and it is regrettable that the reality forces only doctors' sacrifices without considering the actualization of medical fees." He added, "I hope the authorities cooperate so that provincial governors can establish appropriate measures according to local circumstances."

Captured from Hong Jun-pyo's Facebook.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, as the collective withdrawal of residents opposing the government's expansion of medical school admission quotas spreads nationwide, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has issued an order to all hospitals nationwide to 'prohibit acceptance' of residents' resignation letters. As of 10 p.m. on the 20th, the Ministry announced that 8,816 residents at 100 major training hospitals submitted resignation letters. It is reported that none of these resignation letters have been accepted.

Additionally, it was investigated that 7,813 residents had left their workplaces by that day. During on-site inspections, the Ministry issued work commencement orders to 5,397 residents, excluding 715 who had already received such orders, out of 6,112 residents confirmed to have left. For residents who do not return despite the work commencement orders, administrative measures such as 'license suspension' will be imposed.