President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday the government will temporarily raise health insurance payments to hospitals for the upcoming Chuseok holiday to better reward their services and to prevent disruptions in emergency medical care.

During a Cabinet meeting, Yoon addressed concerns over possible disruptions to the medical system during the extended holiday, which starts later this week, as a majority of junior doctors have stayed away from the job since February in protest of a sharp hike in the medical school admission quota.

“The government is working closely with the provincial governments to establish special measures during the Chuseok holiday to ensure the emergency medical system operates smoothly without causing any public concern,” Yoon said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency