Healthcare workers have threatened a general strike, demanding more manpower to the front lines of COVID-19, while the government has promised to draft workforce guidelines in effort to expand the public healthcare sector.

In a Wednesday briefing, Health Ministry official Park Hyang said the government has continued talks with the Health and Medical Workers' Union since May through a consultation body.

Park said the government is aware of the dire need for nurses and other healthcare workers amid the pandemic and is doing its best in discussions to prevent a walkout and minimize any inconvenience.

In a press conference earlier in the day, the union made a number of demands and called for guidelines on personnel at hospitals treating COVID-19, introducing infectious disease allowance payments, and expanding public sector medical infrastructure.

The union also vowed to launch a general strike on September 2 following a vote, arguing that negotiations held on multiple levels with the government since May have yet to produce an agreement.