South Korea to send military doctors to hospitals amid doctors’ protest

Starting next month, doctors who are serving in the military and at local clinics in lieu of mandatory military service will be assigned to hospitals affected by the walkout, Han said.

About 9,000 trainee doctors have joined the protest, disrupting services at large hospitals which were forced to turn away some patients and cancel surgeries and procedures.

Senior doctors and private practitioners have also opposed the government plan to increase new medical school admissions, saying the medical community was not sufficiently consulted.

President Yoon Suk Yeol has said that the plan, which has widespread support among Koreans, was not up for discussion and that there was no justification for doctors to leave their jobs.