SEOUL, March 4 (Reuters) - South Korea’s health minister said on Monday authorities will start inspecting hospitals in order to take legal action against trainee doctors who have ignored an ultimatum to end a walkout over government plans to increase medical school admissions.

Around 9,000 resident and intern doctors, or about 70% of the country’s total, have walked off the job since Feb. 20, leading to the cancellation of some surgeries and treatments and putting a strain on emergency departments.