TAIPEI -- By Kim Eun-young/Korea Biomedical Review correspondent -- Korean doctors fighting against the Yook Suk Yeol government in the wake of the abortive declaration of martial law have heard a voice of solidarity from overseas calling for “unity.”

The representative of doctors around the world also pointed out that the decree ordering trainee doctors to return to work and stating that they would be “executed” if they didn’t follow the order is “preposterous and impossible” given that their resignations have been accepted.

World Medical Association (WMA) President Ashok Philip said so in an interview with Korea Biomedical Review at TaiNEX1 (Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center) in Taipei, Taiwan, last Friday.

“The government may say that junior doctors should return to work. However, most Korean doctors have not simply stopped working. They submitted their resignations. If their resignations were accepted, they can't (be forced to) come back legally,” the WMA president said.

Philips said he could understand that the situation in South Korea can be “a bit complicated.” However, he called for Korean doctors to “unite” to overcome the crisis facing the country’s medical community.

“Korean doctors must reunite for themselves, their patients, and Korean society,” he said. “I hope the united Korean doctors will work with the Korean Medical Association (KMA). We need to stand together.”

WAP President Phillip was in Taipei to attend the first “Asia Pacific Forum on Healthcare Quality.”