South Korea to start legal action against doctors over walkout

South Korean authorities will start inspecting hospitals in order to take legal action against trainee doctors who have ignored an ultimatum to end a walkout over government plans to increase medical school admissions.

Around 9,000 resident and intern doctors, or about 70 percent of the country's total, have walked off the job since February 20, leading to the cancellation of some surgeries and treatments and putting a strain on emergency departments.

The government had warned the protesting trainee physicians that they could face administrative and legal penalties, including the suspension of their medical licenses and fines or a jail term if they did not return to work by the end of last month.