The South Korean government made a concession not to revoke the licences of striking interns

The South Korean government has decided not to revoke the licences of striking trainee doctors in a concession to end months of strikes over healthcare reform.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's health and Welfare Minister Cho Gyu-hong announced at a press conference on Monday (July 8) that taking into account the recommendations of interns and the situation in the medical field, the government has decided that regardless of whether they return to work or not, the government will not impose administrative sanctions such as revoking the license of any interns and residents.

For those who have returned to work and those who have resigned and plan to re-enroll in the internship course in September, the Government will make special cases to minimize the gaps in the internship and minimize the delay in obtaining the specialist license.

Thousands of South Korean medical interns went on strike in February to protest plans by the Yoon government to expand medical school enrollment, forcing major hospitals to cut back on non-emergency services and making it difficult to see emergency patients.

According to Reuters, two-thirds of South Korea's residents and interns have now left their jobs. The protesting young doctors said the government should first address the issue of doctors' pay and working conditions before attempting to increase medical school enrolment by 2,000 a year.

The South Korean government earlier decided to suspend the licenses of striking doctors who refuse to return to work. However, Cao Guihong said Monday that the government decided not to take disciplinary action because it believed it was in the public interest to minimize gaps in the treatment of severe and emergency patients and ensure a smooth training process for specialists.

He said that he hoped that major hospitals would complete the resignation of doctors who did not return to work by July 15, and determine the scale of the shortage. He also called on interns to return to the conversation about their working conditions needs and the availability of medical school places in 2026 and beyond.

Cao added that the government will build a sustainable medical system instead of relying on the overwork of interns.