Starting this week, procedures to suspend licenses of medical residents will begin... Could this be a turning point in the conflict between the medical community and the government? - South Korean reports

With the opening of medical schools and the suspension of licenses for medical residents looming, attention is focused on whether the clash between the medical community and the Korean government will reach a turning point.
As there are rumors that the suspension may be halted, attention is being paid to the government's future response. According to the medical community, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Central Accident Settlement Headquarters for Doctors' Group Actions has announced that it will begin a nationwide campaign to contain the spread of the virus in the coming general election.
The government has continued to take a cautious stance. It has canceled its daily press conferences or replaced them with the release of reference materials.
The deadline for administrative sanctions, which were imposed in the aftermath of the clash between the medical community and the government, is fast approaching.
The medical licenses of Woo Taek, chairman of the emergency response committee, and Park Myung Ha, chairman of the organization strengthening committee, will be suspended for three months from the 15th for the reason of "prohibition of collective action and incitement of collective action."
The government had applied for a provisional injunction to suspend the licenses, but it was rejected by the Seoul Administrative Court. The deadline for hearing the opinions of 35 medical residents who had been notified in advance by the 25th of last month has also passed.
As time passes, other resident doctors who have completed their hearings are also expected to have their licenses suspended one by one.
Lectures in the medical department will also resume. Catholic Kwangdong University, Catholic University of Daegu, Dong-A University,
Classes will begin on the 15th at the medical schools of 16 universities, including Busan National University, Chonnam National University, and Chosun National University. The number of universities that have already started classes or resumed classes has reached 16.
Classes will begin this week at 32 of the nation's 40 medical schools, or 80 percent of the total, but it's unclear how many students will attend.
Given the current situation, it is predicted that this week could be a turning point in the conflict between the medical community and the government.
The ruling party was defeated in the general election at a time when healthcare reform and the issue of increasing medical school admissions quotas attracted a great deal of attention, so attention is now focused on the South Korean government's future response.
Already, all of the chief secretary-level and above staff, including Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, Chief Secretary Lee Kwang-seop, and Chief Policy Secretary Song Tae-yoon, have tendered their resignations.
President Yoon Seok-yeol is also expected to issue a statement this week detailing his plans for reforming national politics. This will include listening to the voices of the people and strengthening communication with them.
It is expected that the bill will include these messages, but attention is focused on whether it will also include a message related to healthcare reform, which will have a direct and indirect impact on the lives of the people.
After the general election, the Korean Medical Association also called on the government to immediately stop promoting the increase in the number of medical school admissions and the essential medical policy package, and to return to the basics and work together with the medical community to promote a progressive medical society.
However, some are voicing their dissatisfaction with the current political situation, with President Yoon pushing ahead with reforms without considering political gains or losses.
Some have speculated that the government may further push ahead with its policy to increase the number of medical school students, given that the government has made this declaration.
At a meeting of the Central Accident Resolution Headquarters for Medical Collective Action, it was decided to extend the dispatch of replacement personnel and increase support for personnel costs in preparation for the situation continuing for a long time.
The second batch of 147 public health doctors and 100 military medical officers was dispatched on the 25th of last month.
A survey of demand for the extension is being conducted. The deadline for applying for government subsidies was extended from the original 12th to the 17th so that medical institutions performing emergency medical treatment can claim for personnel expenses.
There are plans to provide training for nurses who will provide medical support.