Private practice doctors earn 20.3 mln won a month: lawmaker
SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- Doctors with private practices make an average of 20.3 million won (US$17,535) a month, nearly double what they earned a decade ago, a lawmaker said Thursday.
Rep. Jang Chul-min of the ruling Democratic Party said he deduced the average monthly earnings of private practice doctors from their health insurance premiums and found the amount to be 20.3 million won in June, up 90 percent from 10.7 million won in June 2010.
Nominal wages for all workers are estimated to have increased by an average of 33.4 percent over the same period, according to government data.
"Doctors' earnings are rising sharply because the medical labor market is being distorted as a result of artificial limits on supply," said the lawmaker, who serves on the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee.
"I will come up with ways to improve the system so that the number of working doctors matches the market demand," he added.
By region, doctors in North Gyeongsang Province earned the most at 21.8 million won, followed by South Chungcheong Province (21.7 million won) and North Chungcheong Province (21.5 million won). These regions have a low doctor-per-capita rate.
By contrast, doctors in large cities earned less: 15.6 million won in Sejong, 16 million won in Seoul and 17.5 million won in Gwangju and Daejeon.
By specialty, eye doctors earned the most at 31.57 million won, followed by obstetricians (20.49 million won), dermatologists and urologists (19.83 million won), and plastic surgeons (19.52 million won).
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
New BTS song 'Film Out' tops Japan's Oricon weekly chart
-
'Dynamite' becomes 3rd BTS video to top 1 bln views
-
S. Korea, U.S. authorities assess N.K. has completed building new 3,000-ton submarine: sources
-
Mamamoo to hold online concert on British streaming platform next month
-
'Fake Love' becomes 4th BTS video to top 900 mln views
-
(Yonhap Feature) How young voters, once solid supporters of liberal causes, turned against Moon's party in by-elections
-
From Rose to Baekhyun, K-pop group idols also shine as solo acts
-
Moon takes election rout as 'reprimand' from the public, Cheong Wa Dae says
-
Boy band TXT to perform on Ellen DeGeneres show in latest global push
-
BTS to stream concerts in weekend Bang Bang Con event
-
S. Korea voices 'grave concerns' over Japan's expected decision to release Fukushima water into sea
-
S. Korea, U.S. closely watching N. Korean moves on SLBMs, new submarine: JCS
-
(LEAD) New virus cases under 600 for 2nd day; spring resurgence in store
-
(LEAD) Seoul mayor pushes for introduction of self-testing kits, extending hours for small businesses
-
S. Korea expresses 'strong regret' over Japan's decision to release water from Fukushima