Recruitment for Second Half of September Residency Imminent... Concerns Over Vacancy Remain

Concerns Over Additional Gaps in Regional and Essential Medical Services

As the government contemplates measures for non-returning residents ahead of the second half resident recruitment schedule, it is anticipated that residents will not return to training regardless of the upcoming recruitment.

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

According to residents who resigned on the 2nd, even if the disposition for non-returnees is made in a manner favorable to the residents, they have no intention of applying for or returning during the September second half resident recruitment. Ryu Okhada, former representative of interns at the Catholic Central Medical Center, said, "There is no movement among the resigned residents to apply for the second half resident recruitment," adding, "The atmosphere of not returning has not changed."

Resident A, who resigned from a training hospital in Seoul, said, "There is no atmosphere of anyone returning or applying for the second half resident recruitment. There is not even any agitation over the government's announcements," and added, "It seems that no one will attend the nationwide resident exam soon to be held by the specialty societies." He further stated, "Residents have been asking for seven demands from the beginning. One of the biggest reasons for not moving is that fundamental issues have not been resolved."

Resident B, who resigned from a regional training hospital, also said, "Most are not considering returning or applying for the second half recruitment. If they intended to return, they would have done so already," adding, "Even if residents return to hospitals now, there is no significant change in the training environment."

The demands mentioned by Resident A are the seven demands announced by the Korean Intern Resident Association in February. The demands include ▲ complete cancellation of medical school expansion plans and essential medical policy packages ▲ establishment of a scientific physician supply and demand forecasting organization ▲ expansion of specialist recruitment in training hospitals ▲ legal burden relief for unavoidable medical accidents ▲ improvement of resident training environments ▲ complete withdrawal of unfair orders to residents ▲ complete abolition of work commencement orders.

Concerns were also raised about potential adverse effects on regional and essential medical care. Resident B, expressing a personal opinion, said, "Even before the withdrawal of the resignation order, a few who returned were mostly in minor specialties (non-essential popular medical fields)," adding, "Some may move from regional hospitals to large metropolitan hospitals such as the Big 5 (Seoul National University, Seoul Asan, Severance, Samsung Seoul, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital), or change their specialty from unpopular to popular fields."

Earlier, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 4th of last month that it would withdraw various orders issued to residents and their affiliated training hospitals, including the medical service maintenance order, work commencement order, and prohibition of resignation acceptance order. This is because the second half resident recruitment schedule starting in September must be finalized by mid-month.

However, despite the withdrawal of the prohibition on resignation acceptance order being a request from the resigned residents, there is disagreement between both sides regarding the timing. The government considers the resignation processing date to be after June 4, when the order was withdrawn. On the other hand, the medical community insists that the resignation processing date should be February, when the residents submitted their resignations. This is because residents who submitted resignations around February 19 may face legal responsibility for unauthorized absence over the past three months if their resignations are processed as of June 4.