Suppression of freedom of doctors in a democratic country: A bit better than North Korea, but present in South Korea South Korea has a semi-public healthcare system where privately trained doctors are subject to government control by health insurance. This allows citizens to access medical services quickly and affordably, contributing to a generally high standard of healthcare, considering the country's economic level. However, recent issues in the healthcare system have emerged. There is a decreasing proportion of newly graduated doctors specializing in primary care fields such as internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, thoracic surgery, and emergency medicine. This trend is attributed to the disproportionately low reimbursement rates for medical services compared to the cost of living. Additionally, legal precedents enforcing doctors to compensate and face penalties even in the absence of intent or negligence, in cases where patients suffer death or disability, further contribute to the challenges in the healthcare system. This year Korean government announced a policy to increase the current medical school student quota from 3000 to around 5000 starting in 2025, aimed at addressing the decline of primary care physicians. However, despite being the country with the fastest-growing doctor population among OECD nations, the fundamental reasons for a decline in doctors practicing primary care are low compensation and high legal risks. Consequently, a majority of physicians oppose the government's policy without agreement from medical associations. As a result, the majority of interns and residents recently submitted resignation letters to their affiliated hospitals, while medical school students applied for academic leave. However, the government exerted pressure on hospitals, coercing them not to accept doctors' resignations, and similarly pressured medical schools to reject students' requests for leave. The basis for these actions by the government is solely the assertion that "individual freedom can be restricted if there is a public interest." Furthermore, the Korean government is threatening interns and residents who have applied for resignation that if they do not return, their licenses will be suspended or revoked, and in case patients are left untreated or experience adverse outcomes, legal action will be taken against them. Despite being a democracy, as you may know, South Korea's constitution explicitly states, "Everyone has the freedom to choose their occupation." However, the current government, while advocating for liberalism, asserts that doctors do not have the freedom to resign or choose not to renew their contracts. Additionally, medical school students are claimed to lack the freedom to take a leave of absence unless it is for personal reasons. Consequently, hospitals, under government pressure, have issued notices of compulsory appointment to healthcare professionals who either refuse to renew contracts or abandon their internships. South Korea, a nation adhering to liberal democracy, has doctors who, without the state's assistance, invest their own resources in education to obtain licenses and eventually establish hospitals. However, the government, historically neglectful of efforts to enhance the healthcare system, is now using the media to demonize dissenting doctors and engaging in practices that restrict their freedom by implementing misguided policies. This situation appears eerily similar to totalitarian states like North Korea. We hope that the international community takes note of this dire reality in South Korea and supports Korean doctors
