South Korea’s healthcare system is in crisis as thousands of young doctors continue their protests against a government plan to boost medical school admissions. 🚨 After a state-mandated deadline for returning to work expired this week, medics flooded Seoul’s streets, chanting slogans and waving signs like ‘Protect Patients, Don’t Dilute Quality’.
💡 The government wants to add 2,000 medical school slots annually to address doctor shortages in rural areas and essential fields. But doctors argue the plan will overwhelm training programs, lower care standards, and ignore existing overwork issues. ‘We’re already stretched thin,’ said one protesting resident on TikTok. ‘Adding more students won’t fix burnout—it’ll make it worse.’
🏥 Major hospitals report canceled surgeries, delayed treatments, and ER chaos as trainee doctors—who handle critical frontline care—walked out. Patients like Lee Min-ji, 34, shared her frustration: ‘My cancer surgery’s postponed indefinitely. We’re caught in the crossfire.’
🌏 Analysts say the clash reflects deeper tensions in South Korea’s high-pressure medical sector. While the government cites OECD data showing low doctor-to-patient ratios, medical groups argue the country already has enough physicians per capita compared to global averages. 🔍 Will Gen Z medics force a policy U-turn? Stay tuned for updates.
