The number of South Korean doctors who applied to specialize in internal medicine this year was the lowest in the country’s history, according to the Korean Hospital Association.

According to data released by the organization, only 542 doctors applied for 588 spots to become internal medicine specialists. This year is the first time that hospitals received fewer applications than the number of posts available.

Along with internal medicine, the number of applications did not surpass the available spots for surgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons.

These two specialties ― surgery and cardiac surgery ― have been generally unpopular among Korean doctors because of the related workload and stress.

Physician Shin Hyun-young, a spokeswoman for the Korean Medical Association, the biggest representative body of Korean doctors, said the government’s plan for telemedicine was affecting doctors’ decisions not to specialize in internal medicine.

Telemedicine is the use of information technology through devices such as smartphones in order to provide clinical health care at a distance.

The government claims the service would benefit the disabled, those who live in remote areas and are immobile, and elderly patients with chronic conditions that need constant medical attention.

While the Health Ministry plans to implement the service next year, doctors, nurses and pharmacists are arguing that it will reduce the quality of medical services here and jeopardize the operations of small local clinics and regional hospitals.

Shin thinks doctors who specialize in internal medicine will be “affected the most by telemedicine services, especially those who run their own clinics,” and that could partly be the reason why fewer doctors applied to specialize in the field this year.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)