A resident is a preliminary specialist with a medical license. It is also the status of an employee at a training hospital who is trained by clinical faculty. This duality makes the role of a resident unique, because its interpretation differs dramatically depending on whether one focuses on a resident's status as a trainee or as an employee. Issues regarding patient safety have emerged as residents have come to emphasize their role as employees in discussions of how to balance their work duties with their learning responsibilities. The workload that was taken for granted is no longer considered natural. Two years have elapsed since the enactment of the resident law, which was passed to improve the training environment and working conditions of residents, and limits them to 80 hours of work per week. However, confusion persists in the field. In order to solve problems regarding resident education, new education program with hospitalists and the financial and administrative support from hospitals and the government are important.