On 26 August 2020, thousands of doctors affiliated with the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) began a three-day strike to protest government plans to reform the country’s health sector. At least 3,549 health clinics out of 32,787 nationwide were closed, and several hospitals in Seoul reduced their hours and delayed pre-scheduled surgeries. Despite the strike, COVID-19 patients are receiving care. Authorities have ordered the doctors to return to work, and those failing to comply risk losing their licenses and face fines of up to 30 million South Korean won (25,250 U.S. dollars) or a three-year prison sentence. It remains unknown how many doctors complied with the order.