Candidate Jo Jae-hee: "Current Health Insurance Was Established by the Kim Dae-jung Administration"

Joa Jae-hee, Democratic Party Candidate for Songpa Gap, Holds Press Conference at National Assembly Communication Office on 30th, Strongly Criticizes Hwang Kyo-ahn, United Future Party Leader, for Referring to Health Insurance System as Former President Park Chung-hee's Achievement

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jo Jae-hee, the Democratic Party candidate for Songpa-gap, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 30th and strongly criticized Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, for referring to the national health insurance system as an achievement of former President Park Chung-hee.

Jo, who served as the Chief of the Policy Office of the Blue House’s ‘Quality of Life Improvement Planning Group’ under the Kim Dae-jung administration, stated, “It was the Kim Dae-jung government that established the current national health insurance system that benefits all citizens without exception,” dismissing Hwang’s claim that the medical insurance introduced by former President Park Chung-hee laid the foundation for preventing the spread of COVID-19 as untrue.

On the 28th, Hwang Kyo-ahn posted on Facebook, “President Park Chung-hee built a social safety net where people can live with peace of mind through innovative medical insurance and employment insurance policies.”

Jo criticized Hwang’s remarks as “nothing but ignorance and stubbornness of an opposition leader who has no understanding of the history and process of the current national health insurance system,” adding, “It is absurd and misleading to blame the government’s failure in responding to COVID-19 by invoking the Park Chung-hee regime.”

He continued, “Although the Park Chung-hee regime enacted the Medical Insurance Act in 1963, it neglected to implement it for 14 years and only in 1977 did it enforce a very limited scope of medical insurance targeting privileged groups such as employees of large corporations, public officials, and teachers,” explaining, “After the June Democratic Uprising in 1987, the scope of medical insurance was expanded to appease public dissatisfaction with the dictatorship, but it was still a fragmented system with hundreds of separate associations.”

He added, “It was the Kim Dae-jung government that unified this fragmented and corruption-ridden medical insurance system into the single national health insurance system that we all naturally enjoy today,” emphasizing, “By reviewing advanced countries’ medical welfare systems and holding dozens of discussions with domestic and international experts, they strengthened a consumer-centered healthcare supply system and ensured equity in healthcare services, completing a truly ‘universal’ integrated medical insurance system.”

As the Chief of the Policy Office of the Blue House’s ‘Quality of Life Improvement Planning Group’ who promoted the expansion and integration of the national health insurance system, Jo stressed, “In the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, conducting large-scale early testing and protecting the health of the people and maintaining daily stability was possible thanks to the social safety net established at that time.”

He said, “Last year, Korea became the 7th member of the ‘30-50’ club by advanced country standards, referring to countries with populations over 50 million and per capita income over $30,000, following the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Italy. However, the world did not recognize Korea as an advanced country,” emphasizing, “But the world envies Korea’s response to COVID-19 in testing, treatment, and health insurance coverage. Finally, the world is recognizing Korea as a medical advanced country.”

Jo added, “I respectfully ask that instead of being absorbed in outdated politics ahead of the election, we unite our efforts to overcome the still ongoing COVID-19 crisis.”