Medical community condemns Yoon’s martial law decree as lawmakers overturn it within hours

Less than three hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, the National Assembly voted to lift it. However, controversy surrounds the decree, which ordered medical personnel, including resigned trainee doctors, to return to work under threat of punishment. Some medical community members have called for Yoon's removal as president, labeling his actions a “dictatorship.”

The National Assembly convened a plenary session early Wednesday, with all 190 lawmakers present voting unanimously to lift martial law. This decision came just two hours and 48 minutes after the state of emergency was declared. Following the vote, the president was obligated to lift martial law immediately through a Cabinet meeting. Consequently, the proclamation issued by the Martial Law Command was rendered null and void.

The Martial Law Decree No. 1 Article 5 states, “All medical personnel who are on strike or who have left the medical field, including trainee physicians, must return to their jobs within 48 hours and work faithfully, and violators will be punished by martial law.”

The medical community criticized this as a ridiculous move, pointing out that there are no “striking doctors,” despite the martial law command's order for them to return to work under the threat of being “punished.”

Park Dan, leader of the emergency response committee at the Korean Intern and Resident Association, expressed outrage on social media, stating, “As a citizen of the country, I am once again devastated by President Yoon's anti-democratic behavior.” He further added, “He should step down.”

Park said, “There is no place for me to go back,” but added, “If innocent people are harmed by the emergency martial law, I will do my best as a doctor to treat them anytime, anywhere.”

Choi An-na, a spokesperson of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), said in a text message before the martial law was lifted, “Regarding the work order for ‘striking medical personnel, including trainee doctors’ mentioned in the martial law decree, the KMA told the Command that there was no resigned trainee doctors on strike.”

The KMA said it would do everything in its power to ensure the safety of its members and prevent damage. “We will continue to practice medicine as usual to resolve public confusion and anxiety,” it said.

The Seoul National University-Seoul National University Hospital Faculty Emergency Response Committee also pointed out that no one is subject to the declaration.

In a statement released before the martial law was lifted, Seoul National University's emergency committee also said, “Medical professionals who resigned have terminated their contracts with their previous employers. They do not fall under the category of 'striking or leaving the workplace,'” and ”therefore, it is not relevant.”

“Despite the chaos caused by the declaration of martial law, which threatens democracy, we will continue to protect the health of our patients and defend the rights of doctors and other medical professionals,” it said.