Medical community, civic groups demand President Yoon step down over martial law debacle

The short-lived imposition of emergency martial law has united the medical community and civil society organizations in the healthcare sector. They demanded that Yoon Suk Yeol take responsibility and step down, refusing to address him as "president."

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) Emergency Committee demanded Yoon leave his post by taking responsibility for “waging a martial law scheme based on delusions.”

The nation’s largest doctors’ group also urged Yoon to reveal who wrote the word “execute” (striking doctors) in the martial law command decree.

The KMA announced its decision at a news briefing on Thursday.

“Yoon's actions directly disregarded the constitution and created a situation where the military and the people were driven to violent conflict based on delusions,” said Park Hyung-wook, head of the KMA Emergency Committee., head of the KMA Emergency Committee. “Korea is a democratic republic. A president who thinks and acts like a king must be removed.”

Park pointed out that the martial law command decree, which said that trainee doctors and other medical professionals would be “executed” if they did not return within 48 hours, treated junior doctors and other physicians the same as those who overthrew the system.

“The president turned medical professionals into anti-state criminals based on delusions,” Park said.

Park stressed that “execute” is not a word that should be used against the people and called for the government to identify those responsible for including such a tyrannical phrase and hold them accountable.

The interim KMA head also noted that Yoon’s “martial law scheme” and his “medical manipulation” are similar.

“We cannot solve the situation in our country with emergency martial law based on delusions,” he said. “Likewise, we cannot solve the medical crisis based on delusion while branding doctors who resigned long ago as an anti-reform cartel.”

“The way to minimize the damage is for the government to take reasonable measures to allow resigned doctors to return and practice,” Park said. “Stop recruiting medical students for the 2025 academic year.”

On Wednesday, the Korean Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons issued a statement, saying, “Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared the unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law, should immediately take responsibility and step down.”

The group emphasized that martial law is invalid because it was issued without fulfilling the constitutional requirements and procedures.

“We are surprised and outraged that the president, who is supposed to protect the people, is threatening the people, causing them to stay up at night in fear, and targeting doctors for execution,” it said.

The Gyeonggi-Do Medical Association said it would hold a rally in downtown Seoul on Friday to condemn the “medical martial law.”

“The martial law-like medical manipulation, the violation of the constitutional rights of medical students and trainee doctors, and judicial violence that began by the Yoon Suk Yeol regime in February are running wild with no end in sight,” it said.

The Korean Federation of Medical Activist Groups for Health Rights called for Yoon to step down.

“Yoon Suk Yeol, who pushed for privatizing healthcare while turning a blind eye to the healthcare crisis, has already been disqualified as president,” the federation said. “He is no longer the president because he has even pointed a gun directly at the people.”

The Citizens Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) also called on Yoon to step down immediately, accusing him of “martial law rebellion.”

“The prosecution should thoroughly investigate the martial law conspirators for rebellion,” CCEJ said. “The cabinet members who participated in the deliberations and decisions of the cabinet meeting chaired by Yoon should also be investigated for conspiracy to commit rebellion.”

The Headquarters for Creating Good Public Hospitals said, “Dismiss Yoon Suk Yeol, who is destroying people's lives and democracy. We have witnessed how lightly the Yoon regime, which did not apologize even during the medical crisis, values the lives of citizens. Now it has crossed the line and started a rebellion, pointing the muzzle of state violence at the citizens.”

The Free Healthcare Movement Headquarters said, “The martial law scheme and palace coup attempt have provided a reason for Yoon to step down immediately. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has declared a general strike until Yoon steps down. We will fight for Yoon’s resignation with the KCTU and others.”