”We want medical school professors to be recognized as workers” - Korean Medical Association launches constitutional petition

The National Association of Medical School Professors (NISAK) has announced that it will file a constitutional petition to have medical school professors recognized as workers.
On the 23rd, Kim Chang-soo, chairman of the association, said, “We will revitalize the medical school professors’ union that has already been established in the second half of the year and promote it at the same time.
The council is an organization made up of professors from 40 medical schools across the country. In an interview with a medical magazine, the chairman said that medical school professors are working people.
"The professors of the medical school are not covered by the Labor Standards Act and are working in hospitals without a labor contract.
"There is no clear legal basis or protective mechanism for the suspension of work," the council said. According to the council, professors at Ajou University Hospital will be exempt from the annual paid leave allowance in 2022 under the Labor Standards Act.
In a lawsuit filed against the school demanding the payment of allowances, the court ruled that the school was not obligated to pay the allowances because the professors of the medical school were university faculty under the Private Schools Act.
The case has been brought to the Supreme Court on appeal by the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. On the 31st of last month, the chairman also said at a symposium held at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, "We need to revitalize the medical faculty professors' union and establish contracts for medical treatment separate from education and research."
"We are planning to work toward establishing a relationship between this year and the beginning of next year," he said. The council will determine how many hours of medical treatment will be provided within the legal working hours of 52 hours a week, and will assign additional duties.
If this is done, the plan is to decide on specific details such as how the allowances will be paid.