Doctors' strike in South Korea: anger after the search of the main union of this profession
Nearly two weeks after the start of the doctors' strike in South Korea, the movement has not weakened.
And this, despite threats of sanctions from the government.
On Friday March 1, police raided the headquarters of the main doctors' union.
Medical workers enter the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, February 29, 2024. © Ahn Young-joon / AP
By: RFI with AFP
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In
South Korea
, the government gave striking doctors until the end of Thursday to return to work, or face punitive measures.
The latter now risk being removed from the profession.
Of the approximately 9,000 internal strikers, fewer than 600 actually returned to work.
Doctors do not seem to want to end their
protest movement
against the increase in the numerus clausus.
To make itself heard, the government ordered a search of the headquarters of the country's main doctors' union, reports our correspondent in Seoul,
Célio Fioretti
.
The latter denounce an attack on their freedom to demonstrate.
The KMA association declared for its part that its members were “
enraged
” by the police raid, affirming that they would continue to “
resist and make their voices heard
”.
Their spokesperson Joo Soo-ho, who highlighted their fight to be recognized as "
free citizens
", stressed that the doctors "
apologize for the inconvenience
" caused to the public.
An impact on hospitals
Under South Korean law, doctors cannot strike.
But the standoff continues and patients continue to be turned away from emergency rooms.
The massive strike has a significant impact on hospitals.
About half of the surgeries planned at 15 major hospitals have been canceled since last week, according to the ministry.
In Seoul,
medical interns
represent up to 80% of staff in some departments.
The strike movement is still struggling to receive support from the population, with nearly three-quarters of South Koreans opposed to it.
The government, for its part, is seeing its popularity increase a few weeks before the legislative elections.
Seoul claims to have one of the lowest doctor-patient ratios among developed countries and the government insists on admitting 2,000 more students to medical schools each year, starting next year.
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