The Ministry of National Defense stated that it is "not considering" disciplinary action against military doctors who refused to work in emergency rooms.
On the 8th, the Ministry of National Defense issued a statement saying, "Regarding disciplinary action for military doctors dispatched who violated work location orders, we have not received any request from the Ministry of Health and Welfare," and added, "We are not reviewing disciplinary measures."
Earlier, as concerns over an emergency room crisis grew, the government dispatched 250 military doctors to frontline hospital emergency rooms starting from the 4th. However, some of them refused to work or were reassigned to intensive care units, citing concerns over medical accident liability and difficulties in treatment. The Ministry of Health and Welfare had announced its intention to consult with the Ministry of National Defense, including on disciplinary actions for violations of work location orders.
The Ministry of National Defense explained, "These military doctors are currently in discussions with the Ministry of Health and Welfare regarding department adjustments within the dispatched hospitals or reassignment to other hospitals without returning to their units," and added, "After reporting to work according to the dispatch orders, since no agreement on work adjustments with the hospitals has been reached, they are currently waiting near the hospitals or at personal accommodations to perform additional duties."
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