2024–2026 South Korean medical crisis

The 2024–2026 South Korean medical crisis is an ongoing healthcare crisis following the announcement of new government policies that significantly increased medical student admission quotas. In response to the policy, thousands of residents and interns resigned, which resulted in triage being implemented and less essential medical procedures being delayed, with some patients reporting months long delays. There has also been student boycotts and street protests. The South Korean government labeled medical professionals' actions as "illegal collective actions."

The government said that quota increase is needed because South Korea has a rapidly aging population and that the increasing proportion of elderly people will place an increasing burden on the health care system as time goes by. They also report that rural areas and key medical fields such as pediatrics are suffering from a doctor shortage. On the other hand, the Korean Medical Association (KMA), a trade union which represents doctors, stated that governmental mismanagement is the primary cause of the shortage, that reform—rather than an increased number of doctors—is needed to address it. They have also argued that the healthcare system struggles with insufficient financial support from the government and that increasing the quantity of medical students would require lowered standards that would cause a decrease in the quality of medical care.