Doctors respond to government’s plea for return with 'Uisae' meme using famous drama lines

"What we do is ultimately to treat the injured. The beginning and the end must all be there... Today, tomorrow, I will stand here waiting for the patients who need me." - From the drama 'Romantic Doctor, Kim Sa-bu'

SBS drama 'Romantic Doctor Kim Sa-bu' (left), posts related to Uisae (right). [Photo source=SBS, Young Doctors' Association Instagram]

The government created a video using lines from dramas featuring doctors. This was to urge the return of residents who left their workplaces in protest against the plan to increase medical school quotas. Doctors launched a public opinion campaign called the ‘Uisae Challenge,’ a portmanteau of ‘uisa’ (doctor) and ‘sae’ (bird).

According to the government and medical community on the 3rd, the video titled ‘Come Back to Us #We_Need_You’ posted on the official YouTube channel operated by the Korea Health and Medical Information Service under the Ministry of Health and Welfare surpassed 400,000 views as of the 2nd.

A video using dialogue from a drama featuring doctors created by the government.
[Photo by the Government of the Republic of Korea YouTube channel]

The video includes popular drama lines centered on doctors. Examples include "Doctors are the last hope" (KBS drama Good Doctor), "I am a doctor. A doctor who saves lives" (MBC drama New Heart), "For patients, it is the biggest and most dramatic moment in life. They meet us at such moments" (tvN drama Hospital Playlist), and "The most important thing is to never give up before the patient does" (MBC drama White Tower).

The Uisae Challenge Continues...

Image of the 'Uisae Challenge' spreading on social networking services (SNS). [Photo source=Instagram capture]

Meanwhile, doctors launched a public opinion campaign online using ‘Uisae’ memes (internet viral content). The ‘Uisae Challenge’ began among doctors after Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, pronounced ‘doctor’ as ‘uisae’ during a briefing on the 19th of last month. Doctors argue that ‘uisae’ is a derogatory term for doctors. The Korean Medical Association (KMA) issued a statement criticizing it, and Vice Minister Park was reported by medical professionals.

Doctors mainly set images of birds wearing doctor’s coats being harassed during medical treatment as their social media profile pictures or shared them on social media. These images depict birds in white coats or surgical scrubs examining or performing surgery.

These images were accompanied by captions such as “Essential medical uisae who must continue working under a work commencement order despite contracts ending at the end of February,” and “Uisae are saddened by policies that undermine essential medical care.”

The young medical community also referred to the period of collective resident withdrawal as a ‘break time.’ In response to the question, “What will you do during your break?” answers like “diet” and “go to the military doctor friend’s workplace to cause withdrawal” were shared with images.

After the remarks by Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, a 'Uisae' challenge trend is spreading among doctors.
[Photo by Young Medical Association]

Some argue that doctors’ challenge is a caricature that exaggerates a simple mispronunciation. Recently, criticism has poured in over residents on collective strike calling the government ‘low-level Grade 5 clerks’ in front of reporters. Public opinion is also unfavorable. According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from the 13th to 15th among 10,002 adult men and women nationwide, 76% of respondents supported the expansion of medical school quotas.

Meanwhile, the conflict between the government and doctors over the medical school quota plan is intensifying. Earlier, on the 1st, the police conducted a search and seizure of current and former executives of the Medical Association, securing related materials such as mobile phones and PCs from the emergency response office inside the Seoul Medical Association building.

The Medical Association’s emergency committee issued a statement condemning the government’s “acts of suppressing freedom and human rights,” asserting that “the forced labor practice clearly confirms that doctors in South Korea cannot enjoy freedom.”