A patient and his family member walk in a hospital in Seoul in this undated photo. Yonhap

A majority of medical school professors at Seoul National University (SNU) said they wanted to "stand by" their patients but stressed the need to ease excessive workload, a poll showed Saturday, amid the prolonged walkout by trainee doctors.

According to the survey conducted on 467 professors by the emergency committee of the SNU medical professors' council, Friday and Saturday, 96.5 percent of the respondents said they wish to stand by their patients.

Of those surveyed, 63.5 percent supported the need to reduce work hours due to excessive workload. The survey also showed that 7.4 percent were considering leaving the hospital, while 3.5 percent expressed their intention to resign.

Starting March 25, medical professors began submitting their resignations and reduced work hours in support of the walkout. (Yonhap)