South Korean President Takes Tough Stance Against Doctor Walkouts
South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has declared the ongoing walkouts by junior doctors as illegal collective action and has vowed not to tolerate them, threatening to suspend the licenses of about 9,000 medical interns and residents. The doctors are protesting a government plan to increase medical school enrollments, arguing that it would compromise the quality of medical services. The government has warned of legal consequences for the striking doctors, but the Korean Medical Association has expressed support for them. The government's plan to increase medical students aims to address a doctor shortage, but the striking doctors argue that it fails to address issues such as rural healthcare and low-paying specialties.