Overview

• South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Park Dan, the negotiator for young doctors on strike, in a bid to address their concerns over working conditions and healthcare reform.
• The meeting, lasting over two hours, showed signs of Yoon's initial flexibility but ended with little progress, as Park expressed pessimism about the future of medical care in Korea.
• Thousands of trainee doctors have been on strike since February, demanding better working conditions and opposing the government's plan to increase medical school admissions.
• The strike has put significant strain on South Korea's healthcare system, with hospitals forced to turn away patients and cut back on surgeries.
• The government warns of a potential shortage of 15,000 doctors needed to maintain essential services, amidst a rapidly aging society.