Impact of the 2024 Resident Physician Strike on National Cancer Surgery Volumes in South Korea

Background In South Korea, a mass resignation of resident physicians has been ongoing since February 2024 and continues as of June 2025. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the 2024 resident physicians’ strike on nationwide cancer surgery volumes in Korea. Methods We analyzed nationwide administrative data on reimbursed cancer surgeries from January 2019 to July 2024, using data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. A multivariable log-linear regression model was used to estimate changes in surgery volume by comparing observed and counterfactual estimates, adjusting for outpatient consultations by cancer type. We focused on common cancers in Korea: thyroid, stomach, lung, and colorectal. Results The number of overall cancer surgeries at tertiary hospitals declined by 24% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 19–30%) following the strike. Cancer-specific reductions included 27% for thyroid, 31% for lung, 27% for gastric, and 25% for colorectal cancers. In contrast, surgery volumes in secondary hospitals increased overall by 8% (95% CI: 2–14%), with thyroid and gastric cancer surgeries increasing by 14%. Conclusions These findings suggest that clinical workforce instability can rapidly disrupt access to essential surgical services, even in health systems with universal coverage.