Interior minsitry's chief disaster management official Lee Han-kyung participates in a government meeting at Government Complex in Sejong city, June 13. Yonhap

Any illegal acts related to the collective action by doctors will be dealt with sternly, the government said Thursday, as medical professors and community doctors plan to stage walkouts in protest against the medical school quota hike.

The Korea Medical Association (KMA), the biggest doctors' group, plans a one-day general strike on Tuesday, while medical professors at major hospitals have decided to stage indefinite walkouts starting next week, raising concerns about a potential medical crisis.

The KMA is demanding that the government suspend the proceedings regarding the medical school quota hike for 2025.

"The government will try to persuade doctors until the last moment to prevent their planned collective walkouts. In the meantime, any illegal acts will be met with a stern response," Lee Han-kyung, the interior ministry's chief disaster management official, said during a government meeting.

The government will also maintain an emergency healthcare system to minimize the impact from a potential medical vacuum, Lee said, urging doctors to refrain from walkouts.

"I ask you to prioritize the important value of human lives when making any decisions," the senior official said.

The health ministry also stressed that such a collective action would violate the medical law and be subject to punishment.

"Without due reason, medical staff or hospitals are not allowed to refuse requests for medical treatment and relevant services. The unilateral cancellation of patients' reservations can constitute a refusal as banned by law," Deputy Health Minister Jun Byung-wang said during a separate briefing.

"The government will sternly respond to any illegality while maintaining the emergency system by prioritizing the lives and health of the people," he added. (Yonhap)