This is the best summary I could come up with:

South Korea has raised its public health alert to “severe” for the first time, after thousands of doctors went on strike to protest against government recruitment plans, in a dispute that shows no sign of resolution.

The walkout by 8,400 doctors had started to impact medical services, with major general hospitals forced to cancel up to 50% of operations and turn away patients seeking emergency care, according to the Yonhap news agency.

The strikers, who represent almost two-thirds of the country’s residents and interns, insist they are campaigning for higher pay and reductions in their workload, and not against the planned recruitment drive.

In response, the government has said more doctors will be needed to meet future healthcare challenges posed by South Korea’s rapidly ageing society.

The patient, who asked to be identified only by his surname Kim, said he had been turned away by three hospitals before finally receiving treatment at a publicly run medical centre in Seoul.

Many South Koreans support the government’s hiring plans, with a recent Gallup Korea poll finding that 76% percent of respondents were in favour of more recruitment.

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