104 Applicants for Second Half Resident Recruitment... 43% Concentrated in the 'Big 5'

In the recruitment of residents starting training this September, it was found that most residents did not apply. Not only major hospitals in Seoul, known as the 'Big 5' hospitals, but also training hospitals across the country received only a very small number of applicants compared to the number of positions available.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 1st, a total of 104 residents applied in the second half recruitment, which closed the previous day. Considering that 126 training hospitals nationwide planned to recruit a total of 7,645 residents in this second half recruitment, only 1.36% applied. Specifically, 13 interns (0.51%) and 91 residents (1.78%) applied.

Residents have not returned in large numbers after collectively resigning during the medical-government conflict triggered by opposition to the government's medical school expansion in February. As the medical crisis continued, the government offered an incentive called 'training special cases' that significantly relaxes existing restrictions for residents applying in this second half recruitment. Residents who resigned are normally barred from reapplying for one year, but this restriction will not apply to those applying in the second half recruitment.

However, despite this special measure, only a very small number of residents expressed their intention to return. The government stated, "To provide residents with the maximum opportunity to return to training, additional recruitment will be conducted this month," and "the detailed schedule will be announced early this month."

Among the applicants for this recruitment, about half applied to major hospitals known as the Big 5: Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, Seoul Asan Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. A total of 45 applicants applied to these hospitals, accounting for 43.3% of all applicants. The initially feared 'Big 5 concentration phenomenon' has become a reality.

Regarding the second half recruitment, other training hospitals requested a 'regional restriction' allowing applicants to apply only within the same region as their existing training hospitals, fearing such concentration would occur. However, the government decided not to impose regional restrictions. Despite concerns about medical service gaps in provincial areas, it is interpreted that the government sees it as urgent to reduce the medical service gaps in the Big 5 hospitals, which are most severely affected by resident departures.