TRAINEE DOCTORS FULLY RETURN TO WORK

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Medical trainees have suspended their walkout and began to return to work on Tuesday. However, the conflict could re-emerge again as the government has announced vehemently that there is no other way to help medical students who refused to take the medical licensing exam this year.

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​Medical trainees ended their 18-day nationwide strike and returned to work. All medical interns and residents at large hospitals, including Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul Asan Medical Center and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, have agreed to resume their duties. However, it will likely take about two weeks to completely normalize hospitals' operations, as some of them need time to test their returning medical trainees for COVID-19 and re-schedule surgeries as well as outpatient services. The government and the medical sector are at odds over helping medical students who refused to take this year's medical licensing exam. The government drew a clear line, claiming there is no more chance to mend the situation due to fairness issues.

[Soundbite] SOHN YOUNG-RAE(CENTRAL DISASTERS MANAGEMENT HEADQUARTERS) : "The medical students are refusing to take the exam. Demanding help from the government under these circumstances is tantamount to demanding something impossible."

The Korean Medical Association rebutted by saying the agreement signed between the medical sector and the government and ruling party stipulates that damage inflicted on medical trainees will be prevented, and therefore the government must devise measures to help them. Meanwhile, the Korean Intern Resident Association has set up a new emergency committee. The previous committee members stepped down due to criticism over failure to take into account the opinions of all medical trainees before reaching the decision to return to work. The new committee blasted some politicians for infuriating the medical sector by denying the signed agreement.

[Soundbite] KIM MYUNG-JONG(KOREAN INTERN RESIDENT ASSOCIATION EMERGENCY COMMITTEE) : "How can we trust those who break their promise just a few days after the negotiations."

After a long meeting that lasted late into the night, the new committee decided to halt the walkout and have all medical trainees return to work starting 7 a.m. Wednesday. On Tuesday, when interns and residents were set to begin returning to hospitals, about 30 percent of them did not come to work.