Residents Call for Legal Guarantee of Training Continuity During Childcare and Military Leave

"No Appropriate Leave System... Forced to Choose Resignation"

The Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) has argued that even if residents have to suspend their training for extended periods due to childbirth, childcare, or mandatory military service, the law should guarantee the continuity of their training afterward.

Eunsik Kim, Emergency Response Committee Member of the Korean Intern Resident Association, is presenting at the "Policy Seminar on Improving Training Environment and Securing Training Continuity for the Stable Resumption of Resident Training" held on the 4th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Taewon Choi

Kim Eunsik, an emergency response committee member of KIRA, made this statement at the policy seminar titled "Exploring Measures to Improve Training Environments and Secure Training Continuity for Stable Resumption of Residency," held on August 4, 2025, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The seminar was hosted by Representative Seo Myungok of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee and Gender Equality and Family Committee.

KIRA identified pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare as one of the factors undermining the continuity of residency training. They revealed the results of a survey conducted among approximately 2,000 female residents who had resigned since February of the previous year. According to the survey, 74.5% of respondents answered "yes" to the question, "Do you think it is impossible to raise children during residency training?"

Additionally, 84.4% responded that they "fear career interruption due to childbirth or childcare," and 94.1% agreed that "institutional protection is needed for resuming training after a long suspension due to pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare." Furthermore, 78.7% said that "if there were a system guaranteeing training continuity, they would positively consider pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare during training."

Kim Eunsik stated, "When residents have to suspend their training due to reasons such as pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, illness, or military service, there are no appropriate leave systems in place, so residents are forced to choose resignation rather than taking a leave of absence." He added, "The lack of military or childcare leave systems and restrictions on the duration of leave are preventing young doctors from specializing in critical and core disciplines."

He continued, "Hospitals invest hundreds of millions of won annually to train a single resident into a specialist," emphasizing, "Legal systems such as childcare and military leave must be established so that residents can return to their original positions and continue their training."

Han Sungjon, chairperson of KIRA's emergency response committee, also stated in his remarks that "guaranteeing the continuity of residents' training is essential to safeguarding the future of healthcare in Korea." He added, "If the three major demands of residents are accepted, Korean residents will regain hope and be able to return to the field."

Meanwhile, the government plans to discuss measures to improve the residency training environment, including training continuity, at the third Residency Training Council meeting on August 7, 2025, with KIRA and other stakeholders participating. After the meeting, the government will announce the recruitment plan for residents for the second half of the year.