South Korean Senior Doctors to Resign in Support of Striking Junior Doctors
TimeMar 28
South Korea: Medical Professors Submit Resignations
Image copyright: Chung Sung-Jun/StaffGetty Images AsiaPac via Getty Images
The Facts
Professors at South Korea's medical schools began submitting resignations en masse on Monday, in support of a weeks-long strike by trainee doctors against a government plan to increase medical school admissions.
While the professors will continue to work despite submitting their resignations — indicating they may hold talks with the government to reach a breakthrough — university doctors will reportedly reduce their maximum working hours.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Senior doctors and medical professors are acting in solidarity with trainee doctors and interns who are striking against the South Korean government's plan to drastically increase medical school admissions. While the government may claim that more doctors are needed to help care for the country's rapidly aging population, the exact opposite is true. South Korea should focus on taking care of its existing doctors instead of threatening them and diluting the quality of medical professionals.
Pro-establishment narrative
The South Korean government has done everything possible to promote fruitful dialogue and seek a compromise with striking doctors. There's a clear philosophical disagreement between the government and young medical professionals, but this shouldn't cause people across the country to lose access to quality healthcare. Striking doctors must realize that compromise is necessary, and this protest must end soon for the well-being of the South Korean population.
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