Police warn leaders of doctor walkout could face arrest

▲ This photo shows the interior of a general hospital in Seoul on Feb. 18, 2024. (Yonhap)

doctors strike-police

Police warn leaders of doctor walkout could face arrest

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- The national police chief warned Monday that those leading collective action by doctors could face arrest, as young doctors are turning in resignations en masse in protest of the government's increase in medical school admissions.

Interns and resident doctors at the country's five biggest hospitals in Seoul, including Asan and Samsung Medical Center, were set to submit letters of resignation Monday and plan to walk off the job starting at 6 a.m. the following day.

The looming collective action is in protest of the government's plan to raise the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 next year, up from the current 3,058 seats.

Yoon Hee-keun, the commissioner general of the National Police Agency, said in a press meeting that investigations will be conducted swiftly and sternly if criminal complaints are filed against doctors for collective action,

"Detention warrants will be considered for individual doctors confirmed to have violated the law. ... And for those who mastermind (the walkout), we will consider putting them into custody for investigation," Yoon said.

The police chief emphasized that the collective action directly impacts people's lives and safety and vowed stern investigations to prevent any harm to the public.

In collaboration with the health ministry, the police will also look into whether intern and resident doctors who have submitted resignation letters report to work. Additionally, a 20-strong police squad will be mobilized for each general hospital to respond to any potential physical conflicts related to a strike, he said.

Earlier Monday, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo issued an official order for all trainee doctors to remain at work.

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