Conflict Intensifies Between Medical Community and Ruling Party Over 'Uisamyeonheo Chwiso Beop'... Opposition Party Chooses Caution

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] As the medical community has announced a strike over the Medical Service Act amendment that cancels doctors' licenses if they are sentenced to imprisonment or higher, conflicts with the ruling party are escalating. Meanwhile, the opposition party is showing a cautious stance amid internal opposition.

Kim Seong-ju, the ruling party floor leader of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the floor countermeasure meeting on the 23rd, "The fundamental purpose of the Medical Service Act amendment proposed by seven members from both ruling and opposition parties is to strengthen the qualification requirements for doctors to protect the trust of the majority of good doctors from a very small number of immoral medical professionals who have committed serious crimes."

The National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee passed the Medical Service Act amendment with such content on the 19th. If sentenced to imprisonment, reissuance of the license is prohibited for 5 years after the completion of the sentence, and for 2 years after the expiration of the probation period. The Korean Medical Association (KMA) called this the "license confiscation law" and announced a general strike. On the previous day, KMA President Choi Dae-jip emphasized through the KMA YouTube channel, "We will risk everything to block this license confiscation law."

In response, Representative Kim said, "It is completely untrue that this is excessive regulation or retaliation against doctors," adding, "It seems they do not realize that the KMA threatening to refuse vaccination and threatening a general strike at a time just before vaccinations is upsetting the public."

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province and member of the Democratic Party, stated on Facebook that day, "Threatening the public with privileges granted by the people to gain unfair benefits is crossing a line that must never be crossed before even being illegal," and urged, "In urgent cases where maintaining the medical system is difficult due to illegal strikes by doctors, I hope that those with certain qualifications such as nurses will be temporarily allowed to perform minor medical acts such as vaccinations or specimen collection."

The opposition party is showing a cautious stance regarding this situation. On the previous day, Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said, "I cannot understand why a law that upsets doctors is being attempted at a time when their cooperation is absolutely necessary." However, on the morning of the same day, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "I have not yet decided my personal position, and we will review it mainly through the Health and Welfare Committee and decide the party's stance."

Jung Ho-jin, chief spokesperson of the Justice Party, criticized the People Power Party in a statement that day, saying, "Considering the special nature of the medical profession dealing with people's lives and health, ethical awareness cannot be emphasized enough," and "The public cannot accept overturning the committee's bill review just because of a single word from doctors."

Meanwhile, Kim Dae-ha, spokesperson for the KMA, said on YTN's "Hwang Bo-seon's Start New Morning," "We absolutely do not support or oppose the license cancellation of murderers or sex offenders," and added, "We are pointing out issues in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and if there is a situation where a thorough review can be done, we will actively participate and provide opinions."

This amendment is scheduled for review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 25th and a vote in the National Assembly plenary session on the 26th.