The South Korean government initiated actions on Monday to suspend the licenses of junior doctors who remain on strike, following nearly two weeks of protests. Approximately 10,000 physicians went on strike in opposition to government proposals to significantly increase the annual intake of medical students.
The prolonged strike has resulted in the cancellation of medical treatments and surgeries, prompting the government to raise its public alert to the highest level in response. South Korean law allows for the suspension or even imprisonment of doctors if their absence is deemed to pose risks to public health.
On Sunday, doctors, including many who were not participating in the strike, gathered in the capital, protesting with banners bearing slogans such as “we are not criminals.”
