South Korea to Take Action Against Striking Doctors

The South Korean government plans to take legal action against doctors who have participated in a recent strike, potentially leading to punishments for those who disrupted healthcare services. This action comes in response to the ongoing protest against a government plan to increase medical school enrollment.

Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyoo-hong announced that inspections would begin on Monday to confirm whether trainee doctors who participated in the walkout had defied a government order to return to work by the start of March. "We will take action without exception in accordance with laws and principles," he stated during a televised government meeting.

The ministry had previously issued a public notice on its website, ordering some of the striking doctors to return to work. This notice marks the beginning of a process that could lead to disciplinary measures.

The government's response to the strike has been met with mixed reactions. Some support the government's stance, arguing that the doctors' actions have disrupted essential healthcare services and put patients at risk. Others believe that the government's plan to increase medical school enrollment is misguided and will not address the underlying issues within the healthcare system.

It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and what the ultimate consequences will be for the striking doctors.