SEOUL— A South Korean trainee doctor has been arrested for allegedly creating and distributing a “blacklist” of colleagues who have not participated in the ongoing strike over medical training reforms, marking the first such arrest in the six-month-long conflict. The walkout, which has severely impacted emergency care and surgeries, has led to several patient deaths.
The trainee was arrested on September 20 for compiling and circulating a list of non-striking colleagues’ names and personal details through messaging apps like Telegram. The “blacklist” included phone numbers and alma maters, which were shared with malicious intent, according to local reports from Yonhap News Agency.
The head of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), Lim Hyun-taek, expressed sympathy for both the listed doctors and the arrested trainee, blaming the government for creating a situation that has escalated tensions within the medical community.
The arrest comes as tensions remain high between the government and junior doctors, who have been protesting since February over the government’s plan to increase medical school admissions by 1,500 students in 2025. The move aims to address doctor shortages in the country, particularly as South Korea’s population ages rapidly.
While the government insists that the increase will improve healthcare access, trainee doctors argue that the reforms will reduce the quality of medical education and services. Critics of the strike accuse the doctors of protecting their own salaries and status, but public support for the reforms has waned due to the widespread disruptions in healthcare services caused by the walkout.
The government has yet to find a resolution, while South Korea’s healthcare system, which heavily relies on trainees, continues to face significant challenges due to the strike.