This is the first legal action by the Ministry since the start of the national strike by practicing doctors a week ago.

The ministry disclosed that it filed the complaint against five professionals from the South Korean Medical Association (KMA), the main pressure group in the health sector in the country.

According to officials, the doctors are accused of violating a local medical law and obstruction of justice.

Thousands of interns and residents abandoned their jobs eight days ago to protest against the Government’s decision to increase the quotas for new medical students by 2,000.

The strike paralyzed the national medical system, leading the Government to take severe legal and administrative measures.

The administration set next Thursday as the deadline for the striking doctors to return to work, in the last chance before they face legal punishment, including the suspension of their medical licenses.

jg/arm/mem/nv