List of Returning Residents and Fellows Appears in Physician Community

Sharing Information on the Number of Resident Physicians by Hospital, Affiliated Departments, and Years of Training

As the government deliberates on measures for non-returning residents, a list revealing the status of returned residents (interns and residents) and fellows has appeared in a doctors' community.

On the 17th, medical staff are passing between beds placed near the operating room of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to the medical community on the 1st, a list of doctors who returned to hospitals was uploaded on the online community for doctors and medical students, Medistaff, on the 28th and 30th of last month. The author wrote at the beginning that some are hesitant and unable to return, stating the post was intended to "encourage residents and fellows to return to hospitals," but the post is interpreted as aiming to block residents from returning.

In the comments, reports on attendance continued, sharing information such as the number of residents working at each hospital, their affiliated departments, and years of training. In the case of fellows, information that could identify returnees, such as their affiliated hospital, department, alma mater hospital, and enrollment year, was also posted.

This post appeared amid the government's request to training hospitals to "persuade residents to return by the end of June and process those who do not return as resignations." To announce the recruitment of interns and residents for the second half of the year in mid-July, hospitals need to identify vacancies and determine the number of recruits. The government plans to soon finalize the policy on non-returning residents and classify those who will return and those who will resign.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's tally on the 26th of last month, the attendance rate of residents at 211 training hospitals nationwide is only 7.7%. On Medistaff, a post mocking residents who returned early in March, calling them "cham-uisa" (true doctors), sparked controversy. In relation to this, the police are conducting investigations, including raids on the residences of five doctors.