Yonsei Medical School Professor Emergency Committee: "Second Half Resident Recruitment Not for Disciples or Colleagues"

"Leaving the Resident Position at Sajik Vacant, Will Strive to Return"

Professors at Yonsei University College of Medicine have stated that they cannot accept those who apply for the second half of the year residency recruitment as their students and colleagues.

The exterior view of Severance Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Severance Hospital]

The Emergency Response Committee (ERC) of Yonsei University College of Medicine announced this in a statement on the 22nd. The ERC said, "Ultimately, in accordance with the government's orders, all Severance interns and residents were processed as resigned," adding, "The hospital applied for the quota for the fall term in the second half of the year to maintain positions for residents to return after next year, but we professors clearly declare that these positions are for our Severance residents."

They continued, "If our hospital fills the positions of the resigned residents with individuals who have no connection to Severance, it would mean that the government has employed the hospital's workers," and added, "We can welcome those who apply after this current hardship ends as new Severance members, but under the present circumstances, we cannot accept them as our proud students and colleagues who share our academic tradition."

The ERC also pledged to do their best to support the resigned residents. They stated, "Even if Severance residents have resigned, Severance will keep their positions vacant and will do everything possible to ensure they can return with dignity and safety, supporting and standing by them."

They also requested the government to reconsider the issue from the ground up rather than applying a temporary fix. The ERC said, "The government bears full financial and legal responsibility transferred to the hospital, as well as responsibility for the health damage to the public and patients, and for the collapse of national healthcare," urging, "Stop using tricks and futile tactics, restore trust through responsible and courageous choices that reverse everything for the health of the people and the medical system of our country, and engage in direct dialogue with residents and students to bring these young people back."

Previously, among the 151 training hospitals that hired residents, 110 hospitals submitted results of processing the resignations of non-returning residents as requested by the government. These training hospitals will recruit a total of 7,707 residents newly in the second half of the year.