Korea Medical Association

South Korean trade union

The Korea Medical Association is a trade union in South Korea. It claims to represent 101,618^[1] about two-thirds of the country's doctors.

In June 2000, the Association organised an indefinite strike in protest of government health reforms.^[2] On March 10th, 2014 it organised a one-day strike in opposition to the government's plans to introduce telemedicine and against medical regulations they claimed infringed upon physicians' professional autonomy.^[3] In August 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with cases increasing in Korea, the Association organised a 3-day strike and its Korean Intern and Resident Association indefinite strike^[4] in protest of the government's plan to increase the number of doctors over the next decade^[5]^[6] rejecting the government's return-to-work order.^[7] From February 1st 2024 it is organizing massive protests against the government's plan to increase medical school students.^[8]

The Association publishes the Journal of the Korea Medical Association. Volume 60 was published in March 2017.^[9]

References

^ https://www.kma.org/stat/sub1.asp
^ "South Korea doctors strike". BBC News. 20 June 2000. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
^ Kang, Cheong Kee (1 August 2014). "Conflict over Introduction of Tele-medicine and Effort to Restore the Health Care System". Japan Medical Association Journal. 57 (4): 253–257. PMC 4375271. PMID 26005624.
^ "Moon Calls for Stern Action against Doctors' Strike". world.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
^ "Asia Today: SKorea orders doctors to stop strike amid crisis". KWKT - FOX 44. 2020-08-26. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
^ Yoon, Dasl (2020-08-13). "South Korea's Coronavirus Response Under Pressure as Doctors Plan Strike". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
^ "Prime Minister Urges Doctors on Strike to Immediately Return to Work". world.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
^ "Why are nearly 10,000 junior doctors in South Korea on strike?". euronews. 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
^ "JKMA". Retrieved 4 May 2017.