The number of medical residents at the 'Big 5' hospitals has more than doubled compared to the end of last year. There are also predictions that the return of residents who left the hospitals amid the conflict between doctors and the government will accelerate.
According to a count by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) on the 20th, the number of medical residents at the 'Big 5' hospitals—Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Asan Medical Center, and Severance Hospital—was recorded at 548 as of the end of the first half of this year. Among them, there are 113 interns and 435 residents.
At the end of last year, when the conflict between doctors and the government was ongoing, there were 230 medical residents at the 'Big 5' hospitals. Compared to then, the number has increased 2.38 times in just half a year.
By hospital, the number of residents at Seoul National University Hospital increased from 67 at the end of last year to 171 by the end of June this year. At Severance Hospital, the number rose from 46 to 123 during the same period, while residents at Samsung Medical Center grew from 43 to 106, at Asan Medical Center from 35 to 75, and at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital from 39 to 73.
Although the number of medical residents has significantly increased compared to the end of last year, it is still difficult to compare it to the levels before the conflict between doctors and the government. At the end of 2023, prior to the conflict, the number of medical residents at the 'Big 5' hospitals stood at 2,742.
However, under the Lee Jae-myung government, there are signs that the conflict between doctors and the government may find resolution, which could give momentum to the return of residents. The Korean Medical Association Organization (KMA) emergency response committee held an extraordinary general meeting on the afternoon of the 19th at the KMA headquarters in Seoul and voted on the demands set forth by the committee. This is the first time the committee has presented an official demand since a large number of residents left the hospitals in February last year in protest against the government's plan to increase medical school enrollment by 2,000 students.
The KMA has put forth three demands: the formation of a task force composed of frontline experts to review the essential medical policy package of the Yoon Suk-yeol government, improvement of the residency training environment and ensuring the continuity of training, and the establishment of a discussion body to alleviate the legal burdens associated with medical accidents.
The demands of the KMA are likely to be accepted, as they already resonate within the government, medical community, and political sphere. Jeong Eun-kyung, the Minister nominee for Health and Welfare, noted during the National Assembly's confirmation hearing on the 18th that "the Ministry will establish a residency task force to expedite discussions" and added, "We need to create a system that improves the training environment for residents and ensures they receive quality training."
The critical factor in deciding whether residents will return is the 'continuity of training.' Issues regarding the enlistment of residents who have not yet served in the military must be resolved. Currently, there are still approximately 1,000 to 2,000 residents waiting to be enlisted. Even if they return to hospitals in the second half of this year, they could face enlistment orders next year or the year after and must enlist immediately.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to announce recruitment for residents at the end of July and will initiate the recruitment process in August. It is anticipated that they will consider the residents' demands and decide on specific acceptance measures at that time.