South Korean police raided offices of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) on Friday. The raids come as walkouts by junior doctors in Seoul have continued despite backlash from the South Korean government.

According to South Korean news site Yonhap News, police reportedly carried out raids on offices of the KMA in both Seoul and the Gangwon Province in response to the junior doctor walkouts. Officials of the KMA, a trade union for doctors in South Korea, are reportedly suspected of breaking medical laws as a result of the strike action.

Head of the World Medical Association (WMA), Dr. Lujain Al-Qodman, condemned the “police aggression” as “unacceptable” and described the situation in South Korea as “concerning.” In an official statement, the WMA expressed their support for the KMA’s strike acting, stating:

The World Medical Association (WMA) reaffirms its commitment to defending the integrity of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and the rights of its physicians in the face of an unprecedented government-led crisis. The government’s unilateral decision to drastically increase medical student admissions, implemented without clear evidence, has led to turmoil in the medical community.

Dr. Lujain Al-Qodman “strongly urge[d] the Korean government to reconsider its actions and cease the forceful measures imposed on the medical community.” She further stated that “A resolution should respect the rights of physicians and ensure[] the well-being of both medical professionals and the patients they serve.”

The walkouts were sparked by plans by the South Korean government to increase the number of medical students admitted to university per year. Almost 10,000 junior doctors took part in the strike action last week. In response to the walkout, the government set a deadline of Thursday, February 29 for striking doctors to return to work, a deadline which has not been widely adhered to. Yonhap News reported that only 4.3% of those who participated in the walkouts have returned to work.

In response to the continued walkout, the South Korea government plans to carry out administrative measures, such as revoking medical licenses of individuals who do not return to work.