People wait in the lobby of Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju, Friday. Yonhap

In another conciliatory gesture, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo pleaded with medical professors Friday to remain at their workplaces and with their patients, as they are considering taking weekly breaks in support of the ongoing walkout by junior doctors.

The country's 13,000 trainee doctors have been on strike through mass resignations since Feb. 20, protesting the government's decision to significantly increase the medical school enrollment quota. In solidarity with medical interns and residents, medical professors at major general hospitals nationwide have joined the movement.

In an attempt to break the stalemate with the doctors, the government last week accepted a request from the chiefs of six national universities for flexibility in expanding the medical school enrollment quota.

"I earnestly implore the professors. Please continue to stand by your patients as you have done so far, and please persuade your students to return now," Han said during a meeting with government officials.

Despite the government's gesture, more professors have joined the move to offer resignations, even considering the potential suspension of all surgeries and treatments for outpatients once a week.

Han said the government and the people would listen more attentively to the voices of doctors and will accept them more seriously if they return to hospitals.

According to the decision, 32 universities will be permitted to increase their admission quotas freely, with the annual increase ranging between 50 percent and 100 percent, starting in 2025, a turnaround from the previous decision to add 2,000 more medical school admissions in total. (Yonhap)