Rep. So Byeong-hun: "113 Pediatric Residents—A National Disaster"

The number of pediatric and adolescent medicine residents currently employed at training hospitals nationwide has been found to be only 113. Of these, 78.8% (89 residents) are concentrated in Seoul, leaving regional pediatric medical infrastructure on the verge of collapse.

According to data submitted to Rep. So Byeong-hun of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of September 2026, the actual number of residents dropped 81.0% (480 fewer residents) compared to 593 in 2021. Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province had only 2 residents, while South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, and North Jeolla had 1 resident each. Six cities and provinces—Gangwon, North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, South Jeolla, and Sejong—had no pediatric residents on staff.

In 2024, 194 of 236 newly appointed residents (82.2%) resigned. In 2025, 52 of the nation's 61 training hospitals (85%) failed to fill even a single first-year position. When asked about the status of pediatric subspecialists, the Ministry of Health and Welfare responded that since this is a private credential, it does not have hospital-by-hospital employment data.

Rep. So Byeong-hun stated that this is "a national disaster level" situation and pointed out government neglect of duty, calling for effective countermeasures to be put in place.