Medical professors, as well as doctors at neighborhood clinics, plan to stage a collective walkout this week.

The move is feared to worsen disruptions in a medical system that is already reeling from the nationwide walkout by more than 10,000 trainee doctors, which began in late February to protest the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s policy to increase the annual medical school admissions quota.

All eyes are on how many of these senior doctors will join the planned strike.

While more than half of the professors at one major hospital expressed their intention to stop treating patients, and the Korean Medical Association (KMA) reported overwhelming support among its members, some anticipate low actual participation. This expectation stems from a growing number of physicians stating their reluctance to join the strike, citing an increasing reluctance to put patients at risk.

Medical professors at Seoul National University (SNU) and its affiliated hospitals vowed to launch an indefinite walkout starting 토토 Monday. They are demanding the complete cancellation of administrative measures that the government initiated to suspend the licenses of striking trainee doctors who defied a government order to return to work.

According to the emergency response committee of SNU medical professors on Sunday, 529 professors, accounting for 54.7 percent of the total, plan to indefinitely suspend their hospital-related work, including the treatment of outpatients and conducting surgeries.

The committee said the surgery room operation rate is expected to drop from the current 62.7 percent to 33.5 percent.

Kang Hee-kyung, who heads the committee, emphasized that this walkout does not target patients in critical condition or those suffering from rare diseases who can only receive treatment at SNU hospitals.

“The plan is not aimed at harming patients, but at sending a message to policymakers,” Kang said in her message sent to SNU medical professors and the head of the hospital.

“This walkout will affect patients who can be treated at other hospitals or those who are not seriously affected by postponed treatments. We will continue to open dialysis and delivery rooms.”

Professors at Severance Hospital and its affiliated hospitals also said they will launch an indefinite strike starting June 27, while those at other major hospitals are also discussing similar actions.