Amid conflicts in the medical profession, over 420 residents who collectively resigned from training hospitals expressed their intention to return soon. The residents left the hospitals in February last year in protest against the expansion of medical school enrollment. As the next government has come into power, the solidarity has broken, and the number of residents wishing to return is increasing.
According to the medical community on the 19th, the resigned residents have reportedly communicated their desire to return to the Seoul Medical Association in a group chat on that day. A representative from the medical community noted, "There is an atmosphere among them wanting to return quickly, ideally by July," and added, "Their intention is to undergo training at the hospital to acquire specialist qualifications."
A resident is a doctor who works in a training hospital to become a specialist after graduating from medical school and obtaining a medical license. Usually, they undergo one year of internship followed by 3 to 4 years of residency in specific subjects. Senior residents take the specialist exam every early year. The Ministry of Health and Welfare opened the path for the resigned residents to take the specialist exam early next year if they return, and 860 have come back. Currently, there are about 2,500 residents working in hospitals nationwide.
The senior residents who returned last month will train at the hospital until May next year. They can take the specialist exam early next year before completing their training. Those residents who remain outside the hospital have reportedly suggested to the Seoul Medical Association that they should be allowed to return this time to take the specialist exam around September next year.
The reason why some residents did not return at the time was to observe the presidential election results. They wanted to see how the conflicts between the medical profession and the government would unfold once the new government was in power. They are believed to have judged that the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) are indifferent to the situation even after the new government took office.