[비즈한국] Among the resident doctors who resigned due to the conflict between the medical community and the government, those who have found jobs in private practice are recently raising their voices, demanding "better working conditions." They claim that as the conflict has dragged on, salary levels have dropped significantly, and even these positions remain unstable. Within the medical community, while there is a consensus on the need to support these residents, many express caution regarding providing direct help with "job placement."
Departments with Decreased Salaries See Higher Return Rates to Training Hospitals
As the prolonged conflict leads to a brain drain from major hospitals, the salary levels for relatively inexperienced residents are falling sharply. While there was a "bidding war" to recruit them during the early stages of the conflict, the situation reversed at the end of the year, with residents now complaining of "dirt-cheap" wages and working conditions at the "minimum wage" level. This situation seems to have affected the return rate to training hospitals as well. Looking at the results of this year's first-half residency recruitment, departments where salaries in private practice dropped significantly—such as Plastic Surgery (16.4%), Psychiatry (12.5%), Rehabilitation Medicine (9.5%), and Ophthalmology (9.3%)—saw relatively higher application rates.
As criticisms mounted that the Korean Medical Association (KMA) must step up, the KMA formed a task force (TF) and is discussing concrete support measures for residents. According to the KMA, the leadership held a launch ceremony for the Resident Support TF on the 11th and conducted a meeting to review what kind of support has been provided to residents so far. Park Geun-tae, Chairman of the Korea Medical Practitioners Association, explained, "The direction of support hasn't been finalized yet," while adding, "It is true that we have put more effort into job creation." Regarding the recent controversy over the salaries of resigned residents, he said, "We understand that there are some resigned residents whose salaries are quite high. It is difficult to see (low wages) as a universal phenomenon."
"Intervention Is Not Easy... Increasing General Practitioners Plays Into the Government's Hands"
The KMA and local medical associations express that while supporting residents is necessary, it is not easy to provide assistance for "salary increases" and "active hiring." They argue that interfering in employment relationships is inappropriate, and even if they were to intervene, it is unclear whether the results would be positive. Kim Sung-geun, spokesperson for the KMA, said, "We cannot tell private clinics 'how much to set the salary at,'" adding, "While residents also demand stable jobs, most have not stated that they intend to become general practitioners (GPs), but rather that they 'want to return once the issue is resolved.' From the employer's perspective, it is difficult to offer a stable position to an applicant who might leave at any moment saying, 'I have to return to training.'"
Some also oppose increasing the hiring of GPs because it aligns with the government's desired direction. An official from a local medical association, identified as A, said, "From the beginning of the medical school quota increase, the government argued that doctors' salaries must be reduced, claiming there are many specialists but a shortage of general practitioners in Korea. Now that the resigned residents are working as GPs, their salaries have actually dropped due to market logic. Ultimately, the government has gotten what it wanted: more GPs and lower salaries. It has made the government's arguments appear effective," adding, "In this situation, creating more jobs for residents would result in fulfilling the government's agenda, so we cannot view job expansion solely in a positive light."
Some point out that this situation has strained internal unity among doctors and amplified intergenerational conflict. "I am aware that complaints about working conditions are being raised," said official A. "While it is impossible to say that there are no places offering absurd treatment, at least the residents who received job support through the medical association were helped based on goodwill. There were even cases where employers created positions that weren't strictly necessary, provided training, and offered financial support, yet now comparisons are being made about the terms," he added. "Ultimately, the fundamental problem must be solved, but as time passes, mutual misunderstandings have only deepened. This is not something that can be solved by simply creating jobs."
Additional Resident Recruitment Begins... Will the Atmosphere in Private Practice Change?
The KMA and local medical associations intend to monitor the situation from late February to early March. Chairman Park Geun-tae said, "We expect to be able to make an announcement regarding resident support measures next week or the week after." Official A mentioned earlier, "We can show our will to help, but the issues the residents have been fighting for won't be resolved. It is no different from crushing their dreams entirely and telling them 'you have to live like this forever,'" adding, "However, considering the reality, we are preparing support measures focused on hospitals where struggling residents can work while learning. Positions that could be criticized for facilitating a 'return to training' will be excluded."
Training hospitals across the country began additional recruitment of residents this week. This follows the fact that the application rate for this year's first-half residency recruitment remained in the 2% range. Additional recruitment for residents began on the 10th, and for interns on the 12th. To secure as many residents as possible, the application periods and frequency for each hospital are being operated flexibly. Military service exemptions do not apply. Last month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare lifted the regulation restricting "return to the same department or year within one year of resignation" and offered special provisions to delay enlistment for residents subject to military service until after the completion of their training, but the effect has not been significant.