Yoon calls for flexible ways to process suspension of medical licenses

Published : Mar 24, 2024 - 19:58 Updated : Mar 25, 2024 - 09:17

President Yoon Suk Yeol (second from left) fist-bumps a young cancer patient during a visit to Asan Medical Center in Seoul on March 18, amid a nearly monthlong walkout by more than 11,000 trainee doctors protesting the government's plan to increase medical student enrollment. (The Presidential Office)

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday urged Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to consult with political parties to seek a flexible process in suspending the licenses of striking trainee doctors, the presidential office said.

Yoon also asked Han to form a "constructive consultative body" to promote dialogue with medical workers, according to his office.

Yoon's order was made at the request of ruling People Power Party (PPP) chief Han Dong-hoon after he held talks with a group of medical professors earlier in the day.

More than 90 percent of the country's 13,000 trainee doctors have been on strike in the form of mass resignations for about a month to protest the government's decision to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats from the current 3,058 starting next year to enhance health care services in remote areas, as well as essential but less popular medical disciplines.

The government has been taking due administrative steps to suspend the licenses of striking doctors as they missed a government-set deadline to return to work late last month, and the suspension will take effect Tuesday for some. (Yonhap)