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Why junior doctors in South Korea are fighting for their rights?

In South Korea most junior doctors there have so far defied a government order to return to work by the end of Thursday, despite the threat of legal action.

South Korea is dealing with another day of a doctors' strike. Most junior doctors there have so far defied a government order to return to work by the end of Thursday, despite the threat of legal action. About eighty percent of junior doctors walked out last week in protest against a decision to sharply increase the number of medical school places.

They say training more doctors could lower the quality of a medical school education and reduce pay. The authorities say the increase will address shortages linked to South Korea's rapidly ageing population, and a lack of doctors in rural areas. These people in Seoul shared their views on the strike action.

Also, in the programme, we will hear from The United States Trade Representative - Katherine Tai, we will find out of why the fall in bilateral trade between the United States and China is a positive development for both economies.

(Picture: Doctors protest in South Korea, Seoul. Picture credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

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27 minutes

Broadcast

  • Thu 29 Feb 2024 22:32GMT