Public Image of Doctors at All Time Low in South Korea Due to Walkouts
It is understandable that the public image of doctor’s in South Korea has taken a severe nosedive with their antics to try and stop the increase of students going to medical schools:
The conflict over the proposed increase in medical student quotas, which has persisted for more than nine months, continues to disrupt medical services nationwide. Despite ongoing discussions, doctors and the government have yet to find common ground. The ruling party’s proposal for four-way negotiations remains untouched, with no formal dialogue having taken place.
While the standoff has continued, Park has felt her understanding of what being a doctor means as a profession changing.
“I had thought of them as selfless heroes dedicated to public health, but now I see them as a privileged group driven by self-interest,” she said.
Park is not the only one who questions the profession’s long-standing reputation for public service.
“The latest tension between doctors and the government has given the public the impression that they are a selfish and (a group) that requires negotiations for everything,” said Lee Ju-yul, professor in the Department of Health Administration at Namseoul University.
Patients with chronic illnesses feel betrayed by doctors, with some complaining they have been treated as bargaining chips.
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