President Yoon Suk Yeol said the doctors ‘ attack was “regretful and disappointing”.
“( The government ) has no choice but to sternly deal with the illegal acts neglecting patients”, Yoon said during a cabinet meeting, while offering to work together if the doctors return to work.
Almost eight in ten South Koreans are against the physicians ‘ attack, according to a survey conducted by local pollsters last year.
In response to the president’s push to increase health school admissions to handle the country’s physician shortage, some doctors and medical personnel have openly criticised the collective action.
Others have argued that adding just one doctor will do little to provide essential services and remote areas that are dealing with a growing shortage of specialists.
According to the Yonhap media firm, more than half of medical professors at Seoul National University hospitals went on an endless strike on Monday.
The Korea Medical Association, a leading critique of the president’s changes, has vowed to go on attack on Tuesday.
Later that evening, the party is expected to rally in Seoul and demand resumption of the increase in medical school enrollment.