South Korean cracks down on doctors' strike, raids medical association offices

South Korean police executed a raid on the offices of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) on Friday, intensifying efforts to quell the ongoing doctors’ strike that has thrown the nation’s healthcare system into disarray. The strike, initiated by nearly 10,000 junior doctors, constitutes approximately 80 percent of the trainee workforce, protesting against government plans to significantly increase medical school admissions.

The government, grappling with shortages and an aging society, had set a deadline of February 29 for medics to resume work or face severe consequences, including potential suspension of medical licenses and arrest. Shockingly, only 565 doctors had returned to work by the deadline, according to figures released by the health ministry.

The mass work stoppage has taken a toll on hospitals, prompting the government to raise its public health alert to the highest level. About half of the surgeries scheduled at 15 major hospitals have been canceled since last week, exacerbating the strain on the already overburdened healthcare system.

Under South Korean law, doctors are prohibited from striking, leading the government to request a police investigation into individuals connected to the stoppage. The health ministry even publicly posted back-to-work orders for 13 trainee doctors, warning of disciplinary action and criminal prosecution for non-compliance.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong expressed gratitude for the trainee doctors who returned to work, while the KMA, in response to the raid, stated its members were “enraged” and pledged to continue resisting and raising their voices.

The root cause of the strike lies in the government’s push to admit 2,000 more students to medical schools annually from next year, aiming to address one of the lowest doctor-to-population ratios among developed nations. While doctors fear this reform will compromise service quality and medical education, proponents argue that the move is necessary to meet the healthcare demands of the nation.

Junior doctors argue that the healthcare system’s over-reliance on trainees is unreasonable and unfair. Despite polling showing up to 75 percent public support for the reforms, the standoff persists. President Yoon Suk Yeol, taking a hard line on the striking doctors, has seen his approval ratings rise ahead of the legislative elections in April. With his party aiming to regain a parliamentary majority, the government appears unlikely to compromise swiftly, according to analysts.

Accusing the government of using “intimidation tactics” and turning the country into a “totalitarian state,” the KMA is set to hold a rally in Seoul on Sunday, with an estimated 25,000 people expected to join in a show of solidarity against what they perceive as an assault on their profession and rights.