In response to the ongoing strike by nearly 12,000 trainee doctors at 100 hospitals in South Korea, the government has taken measures to address the situation and alleviate potential strains on healthcare services. On Monday, the South Korean authorities announced the deployment of military physicians and doctors from public health centers to hospitals affected by the strike.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong revealed that twenty military surgeons and 138 public health doctors will be assigned to 20 hospitals for a duration of four weeks. This move aims to ensure that patients receive the necessary care despite the absence of protesting doctors. However, it is worth noting that this number of military physicians is just a small fraction of the approximately 2,400 military doctors available, as stated in a defense ministry briefing.

Although the government has denied claims of a full-blown health crisis resulting from the strike, some hospitals are facing challenges such as having to turn away patients and postpone medical procedures. The strike began on February 20, as the doctors oppose the government's plans to increase medical school admissions. They argue that the proposed increase will not effectively address issues related to pay and work conditions, and may exacerbate existing problems.

The government has attempted to urge the striking doctors to return to work by warning them that their medical licenses could be suspended. However, thus far, these warnings seem to have had little impact. The health ministry has sent notices to over 4,900 doctors, informing them that licenses may be suspended if they fail to provide an explanation for their actions. Health Minister Cho emphasized that doctors who return to work before the suspension of licenses is implemented will be granted leniency.

In extreme cases where lives and public health are at serious risk, the government has the authority to order doctors to return to work. Meanwhile, supporters of the government's plan argue that increasing medical school admissions by 2,000 annually, starting from 2025, is crucial to combat the shortage of doctors in South Korea, which is one of the world's fastest-aging societies.

Critics of the policy, however, accuse President Yoon Suk Yeol of using the medical reforms as a political tool to benefit his party ahead of the parliamentary elections in April. A recent survey conducted by Yonhap news agency revealed that 84% of respondents support the idea of adding more doctors, while 43% believed that striking physicians should face stern punishments.

As the strike continues, it remains to be seen whether the deployment of military and public health doctors will effectively bridge the gap caused by the absence of protesting doctors. Meanwhile, efforts to resolve the ongoing dispute between the government and the doctors' association are ongoing, with the hope of finding a mutually beneficial solution that addresses the concerns of both parties.