The South Korean government has invited striking young doctors to dialogue as the deadline for the ultimatum on returning to work approaches: otherwise, Seoul has threatened to take legal action over the blocking of public services which have thrown hospitals around the world into chaos. the country.
The deputy health minister, Park Min-soo, said he had contacted the doctors involved in the protest with the aim of meeting them during the day, despite the uncertainties linked to possible membership.
Doctors had resumed work in hospitals and "we detected a decline in strikes for two consecutive days," Park told a news conference in Seoul media report.
Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, "begging to return to hospital wards for patients," said the government was committed to its reform plan, which would increase medical school admissions by 65 percent, citing a shortage of health professionals and a looming demographic crisis.
The Health Ministry reported that nearly 10,000 trainees (9,997 in total) - around 80% of the information workforce - resigned and left their jobs last week in defiance of government plans to increase employment by more than 2,000 a year. admissions to medical schools.
The doctors, however, contested the project, judging it to be capable of damaging the quality of the service.
While the Korean Medical Association (Kma) criticized the "intimidation tactics" implemented by the government.
Analysts, however, have objected that the standoff could last, intertwining with the next legislative elections on April 10.
The government's hard line could prove advantageous given the growing support for its position: according to polls, up to 75% of those interviewed support the reforms and President Yoon Suk-yeol, who has adopted the intransigent position, has seen a surge in his approval rating personal liking.
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