Logo of the Ministry of National Defense / Yonhap

Male doctors who quit their medical training last year to protest the government's plan to raise the medical school quota will begin their mandatory military service in phases from 2025 to 2028 instead of entering en masse this year, the defense ministry said Friday.

Last year, thousands of intern and resident doctors at hospitals resigned in protest of the plan to boost the number of medical school seats this year, with more than 3,000 male doctors becoming eligible for military service in 2025 — more than three times the usual figure.

Korea requires all able-bodied men to undergo at least 18 months of military service. Male trainee doctors who have yet to serve are temporarily exempt from service during their medical training if they agree to serve as military or community doctors.

Last year's mass resignations, however, have automatically placed 3,300 male doctors eligible for service this year, far higher than the usual annual figure of about 1,000.

Considering this year's figure, the ministry said such doctors will enter their service in phases through 2028, citing concerns of personnel shortages down the road if they all start their service in 2025.

The move, however, has faced opposition from some trainee doctors who have resigned as many of them would be required to wait to carry out their service.

A group of such doctors plan to stage a protest outside the ministry's headquarters in central Seoul on Saturday. (Yonhap)