A Crisis within Care: Protecting the Wellbeing of KoreaS Medical Workforce
To the korean Medical Association, the Korean Association of General Practitioners, the Korean Hospital Association, the Korean Dental Association, and the Korean Oriental Medicine Association,
The National Health and Medical Industry Labour Union writes to you today with a deep sense of urgency. While Korea‘s medical professionals are rightly lauded for their dedication and skill,a silent crisis is unfolding within our community – a crisis that threatens the very foundation of quality healthcare and the wellbeing of those who provide it. This crisis centers on the systemic challenges faced by medical workers, particularly women, attempting to balance professional life with family.
The reality for many is stark. The announcement of a pregnancy often triggers anxieties surrounding job security and career interruption. Expectant mothers face difficulties accessing adequate prenatal care due to staffing shortages, and those who take maternity leave are frequently met with subtle, yet damaging, pressure and a lack of respect from colleagues. This habitat forces an impossible choice: career or family. Too many talented and dedicated female medical professionals are ultimately compelled to “retire” from their profession to raise children,representing a significant loss of expertise and a profound injustice.
This situation is particularly egregious given the economic realities within the medical field. Doctors, even at clinic-level institutions, consistently earn incomes placing them firmly within the top 1% of earners in Korea. Yet, despite this financial capacity, many institutions exploit legal loopholes – specifically the “less than 5 employees” clause – to circumvent their responsibility to provide basic worker protections. The reluctance to invest in improved working conditions, even when resources are readily available, is a clear abdication of social responsibility.
This isn’t simply a matter of individual hardship; it’s a systemic failure that impacts the quality and sustainability of healthcare for all Koreans. A demoralized and unsupported workforce cannot deliver the best possible care. Improving working conditions and addressing inequality within the medical community is not merely a desirable outcome, but a moral imperative for a profession entrusted with the health and lives of the nation.
The time for silence is over. We believe that open and constructive dialog is the only path forward. In a society increasingly focused on social dialogue and fairness, it would be a disservice to the spirit of the times for the medical field to remain isolated. Proactive engagement now, before this issue escalates, will benefit all stakeholders.
Therefore, the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union formally requests an immediate forum for dialogue with your associations. We propose a discussion centered around the following key areas:
* Application of Labor Laws: Addressing the legal loopholes that currently exclude many medical institutions from providing essential worker protections.
* Minimum Welfare Standards: Establishing and implementing comprehensive welfare standards for all medical workers, including support for continuing education, provision of essential amenities like meals and lounges, access to healthcare, and provisions for family leave and bereavement.
* Consultative Body Operation: Developing a clear operational framework and a schedule for regular meetings to foster mutual understanding and collaborative problem-solving.
We, the doctors and medical workers of Korea, are colleagues united by a shared mission: protecting the health and lives of our patients. Improving the quality and sustainability of healthcare is a goal we all share. Let us work together, based on mutual respect and understanding, to build a medical community were all professionals can thrive.
We urge you to respond to this request with a sense of social responsibility and a commitment to the future of healthcare in Korea.
November 4, 2025
national Health and Medical Industry Labor Union
