Seoul, Mar 4: Tens of thousands of doctors held a rally in Seoul on Sunday to protest the government’s medical school quota hike plan as South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo hinted at the possible suspension of medical licenses for striking trainee doctors.The rally by member doctors of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), the biggest medical lobby group, came as thousands of trainee doctors have remained off their jobs at general hospitals for the 13th day, protesting the plan to add 2,000 more medical school seats starting next year, Yonhap news agency reported.
Crowds of doctors filled up a street in Seoul’s western district of Yeouido, waving protesting flags and holding up signs reading “Absolute opposition to a medical school quota hike without agreement from medical fields,” or “Unprepared medical school quota hike compromises medical education.”
Kim Taek-woo, the KMA’s emergency committee chief, warned at the start of the rally that “the government will face resistance from the public if it turns a blind eye to doctors’ efforts and attempts to repress them.”
Kim accused the government of unilaterally pursuing medical reform without prior consultation with the medical field, while calling on the government to engage in dialogue with protesting doctors to resolve the ongoing walkout.
“No trainee doctors or members of the KMA’s emergency committee have ever encouraged or desired the crippling of medical services,” he said, protesting that the government is using pressure to bring trainee doctors back to work while remaining uncompromising over its quota hike plan.