Veteran physicians in South Korea intend to join their junior colleagues on the protest front next week if the authorities fail to address a three-week-long strike regarding medical school admissions.

On Tuesday, the Korean Medical Professors Association declared that it had made a decision the previous day to respond if the government carries out its warning of revoking the junior doctors’ medical licenses if they continue to boycott work.

The organization has requested that the government start “unconditional” discussions with the younger physicians in order to address the situation.

On Monday, a group of professors from Seoul National University Hospital announced that they will all resign if a satisfactory solution is not reached by the beginning of next week.

Cho Kyoo-hong, the Health Minister, stated that the ultimatum given by professors at Seoul medical school could endanger the well-being and survival of patients. Cho urged senior doctors to convince their junior colleagues to resume their duties.

Around 12,000 junior doctors have been on strike since February 19 in protest of the government’s proposal to raise the number of medical students from 3,000 to 5,000 by next year. This move is aimed at addressing the growing healthcare needs of South Korea’s aging population.

Medical associations argue that the proposed rise in enrollment cannot be accommodated by medical schools and that doctors require improved compensation and working conditions.

Some critics claim that the doctors, who are among the highest-paid professionals in South Korea, are concerned that the addition of new physicians could decrease their earnings.

The government has allowed civilians to use military hospitals and has extended the opening times of multiple public hospitals.

I gathered information for this report from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.