**Government Introduces Policies to Encourage Junior Doctors’ Return**
The government has issued an apology for the contents of a martial law proclamation, which included directives for penalizing junior doctors, during the illegal emergency martial law of December 3rd. It was also announced that junior doctors who had resigned would be allowed to return to their original hospitals for training without the usual “one-year return restriction.”
On the 10th, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, alongside Health Minister Cho Kyuhong, held a joint briefing at the Seoul Government Complex. They addressed the medical community and educational sector, stating that the martial law proclamation did not align with government policy. Deputy Prime Minister Lee expressed sincere regret and empathy to those in the medical field who were hurt by these orders.
The initial proclamation, issued by the martial law command on December 3rd, warned that all medical personnel, including junior doctors who were striking or had left their posts, must return to duty within 48 hours, or face punishment under martial law.
To encourage the return of junior doctors, conciliatory measures have been proposed. Deputy Prime Minister Lee assured that if a resigned junior doctor chooses to return, their training would proceed smoothly. The current regulation, which restricts re-entry within a year after resignation, will be waived if the doctor returns to their former hospital and specialty. Additionally, efforts will be made to allow resigned medical officers to return to training and join military service as doctors after completing their training.
Under normal circumstances, a junior doctor cannot apply to the same specialty or year of training within one year of resignation. Those who resigned in February last year, having had their resignations processed by July, would be unable to return by March this year. However, with the special training measures, they can partake in the additional resident recruitment early next year and return to their original hospitals.
The issue of military service also had to be addressed to facilitate the return of junior doctors. They are registered as medical officer candidates, and upon resignation, they become subject to conscription. The Military Manpower Administration would classify them by career next month, determining those who would be enlisted this year. Notification of military enlistment would prevent a March return and, given a long waiting list, enlistment dates are uncertain even if they chose not to return.