Seoul National University Hospital, most consultations and surgeries resume on the third day of closure... "Is the closure meaningful?"

Starting from the 17th, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital professors have decided to extend their indefinite strike until next week. However, given that outpatient visits and surgeries at Seoul National University Hospital have significantly recovered, and internal voices questioning the usefulness of extending the strike have emerged, there is speculation that the strike may end after a one-week extension. In the lawsuit filed by medical school professors and others requesting a suspension of the medical school expansion process, both the Seoul High Court and the Supreme Court sided with the government, reducing the likelihood of re-discussion on next year's medical school expansion as demanded by medical associations.

● Outpatient visits and surgeries mostly recovered after three days

According to the medical community on the 19th, professors at Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital are discussing whether to continue the closures at Seoul National University Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, Boramae Medical Center, and Seoul National University Gangnam Center next week. The professors had previously postponed appointments from the first week of the strike, from the 17th to the 21st. A member of the Emergency Response Committee of the Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital Professors' Council stated, "To postpone appointments for next week (24th to 28th), a decision must be made on the 20th and schedules changed on the 21st," and "a general meeting will be held on the 20th to decide whether to extend the strike."

On the first day of the indefinite strike on the 17th, outpatient visits and surgical cases at Seoul National University Hospital, which had decreased by about 25%, recovered significantly on the 18th and 19th. The number of surgeries increased by 12% compared to the day before the 18th, and it is reported that it increased by about 10% on the 19th as well. Bundang Seoul National University Hospital and Boramae Hospital also saw a significant recovery in outpatient visits and surgeries. A representative from Seoul National University Hospital stated, "On the 19th, the number of outpatient visits and surgeries approached the average level since the departure of residents (interns, residents) in February of this year."

Among Seoul National University College of Medicine and hospital professors, there is talk that "more than a week of closure is practically impossible." Kang Hee-kyung, the head of the emergency medical committee, met with reporters on the first day of the closure, the 17th, and stated, "We have no plans to adjust the schedule until next week," indicating that they would only be closed until this week. However, the emergency medical committee later reversed this stance, saying, "A week-long closure is not an official position of the committee."

Inside, there are still claims that "we must continue the strike until our demands, such as the cancellation of administrative sanctions against residents, are accepted," but voices advocating that "for the sake of patients, we must now find an exit strategy" are gaining strength. A professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine said, "If the government does not meet our demands, ultimately, there will be no choice but to surrender."

The Supreme Court also sided with the government.

Professors at Severance Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Yongin Severance Hospital under Yonsei University College of Medicine, aside from Seoul National University Hospital, have announced an indefinite strike starting from the 27th. Professors at Seoul Asan Medical Center will begin a one-week strike from the 4th of next month, and thereafter, they will decide whether to extend the strike based on government policies. However, these hospitals plan to maintain as much as possible of their emergency and critical care services even during the strike.

Among the five major hospitals, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and Samsung Seoul Hospital are internally discussing whether to go on an indefinite strike. The Catholic Medical School's emergency committee, which includes eight St. Mary's hospitals including Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, held a faculty general meeting on the 20th to decide whether to proceed with an indefinite strike. The emergency committee of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, which includes Samsung Seoul Hospital, began related discussions on the 15th but has not yet reached a conclusion. A professor at a top-tier general hospital in Seoul said, "An indefinite strike is the 'last card' that professors can consider, so a decision won't be easy."

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's Second Division (Presiding Justice Shin Sook-hee) upheld the government's decision in a stay of execution application filed by medical school professors, residents, and students, who requested to suspend the increase in medical school admissions. The court recognized that medical students have the right to apply for a stay of execution but dismissed the request, reaffirming the lower court's conclusion that "if the stay is granted, it could have a significant impact on public welfare." The court also pointed out that "in a situation where there is a forecast of a shortage of future doctors, suspending the allocation of increased admissions could cause substantial harm to the critical role of medical schools in public health."