Many Korean doctors who did not strike were threatened.

South Korea Some medical interns were attacked when they returned to work, while others who did not participate in the strike had their personal information leaked on social media.

On March 10, Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said the government will investigate and take strict action against threats and harassment against trainee doctors who did not participate in the strike.

"Targeting people who are trying to work day and night and forcing them to go on strike is completely unacceptable," Minister Cho said.

Local media reported that some trainee doctors were attacked and pressured to return to work, while those who did not take part in the strike had their names and personal details revealed online.

Over the weekend, South Korean police also launched an investigation into a document stamped by the president of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which requested a "blacklist" of interns and residents who would not participate in the strike. However, KMA spokesman Joo Soo-ho said the document was fake.

With 140,000 members, the KMA is the country’s largest professional organization for doctors. Twenty days into the strike, more than 90 percent of the 13,000 interns and residents working at 100 general hospitals have not returned to work. They are protesting against the government ’s plan to increase medical school enrolment by 2,000 next year.

Doctors walk in the hallway of a hospital in Seoul, February 19. Photo: Reuters

Junior doctors now make up 30-40% of the total number of doctors at the country’s top hospitals. They often assist senior doctors during surgeries and manage inpatients. The South Korean government argues that they need to be increased in rural areas and in essential medical fields, such as high-risk surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and emergency medicine.

Doctors, meanwhile, blame the shortage on too many trainees choosing lucrative fields like cosmetic surgery and dermatology over essential, low-paying, high-risk jobs. Experts say the doctors’ backlash is also driven by fears of competition and overall pay cuts.

As the strike continues, many major hospitals have had to delay or cancel surgeries or procedures. The Ministry of Health said it would complete the process of revoking the licenses of striking doctors this week.

Under South Korean law, doctors who violate the law can face a license suspension of at least three months, a three-year prison sentence or a fine of 30 million won ($22,780).

Thuc Linh (According to Korea Joongang Daily )

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