[Passage of Nursing Act] ③ Health and Medical Sector "Hunger Strike, General Strike Possible"... Aftershock Expected

Opposition to Nursing Act Enactment by Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity
Indefinite Hunger Strike... "Anti-Democratic Situation"
Minister of Welfare "Regret... Efforts to Minimize Confusion"

As the Nursing Act, which separates nursing personnel such as nurses and nursing assistants from the existing medical system, passed the plenary session of the National Assembly, the aftermath is expected to be intense. Health and medical professional organizations, excluding the nursing sector, are opposing the enactment of the Nursing Act as a “privilege for a specific profession” and are even threatening a general strike, making future confusion inevitable.

Representatives of professional groups belonging to the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity opposing the enactment of the Nursing Act are issuing a condemnation statement and declaring a hunger strike in front of the Korean Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 27th.
[Photo by Korean Medical Association]

The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity, consisting of 13 health and medical professional organizations including the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Nursing Assistant Association, condemned the passage of the Nursing Act in the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th and decided to begin an indefinite hunger strike. The solidarity stated, “The process of passing the Nursing Act and the Medical License Revocation Expansion Act in the National Assembly plenary session was an unprecedented anti-democratic incident where the opposition party unilaterally submitted the bill to the plenary session without proper bipartisan agreement.” They added, “Due to the ongoing conflicts over the scope of work, the health and lives of the public will be exposed to unprecedented risks.”

Until now, the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity has continuously escalated its level of protest ahead of the enactment of the Nursing Act. On the day the Nursing Act was submitted to the plenary session, they held relay one-person protests in front of the National Assembly. Lee Pil-su, president of the Korean Medical Association, said, “The Nursing Act clearly undermines coexistence and harmony among health and medical professions and is a harmful law that threatens public health and life. I hope that the health and welfare medical professionals’ earnest advice will not be ignored, prioritizing public health.” Park Myung-ha, chairman of the Korean Medical Association’s Emergency Committee, also emphasized, “Contrary to the original purpose of the Nursing Act, it has been distorted into a tool for monopolizing community care projects. If it passes as originally drafted, we will have no choice but to take the final option of a general strike involving 13 organizations.”

In fact, the Korean Medical Association’s Emergency Committee conducted a survey from the 7th to the 19th of this month among its members regarding support for a general strike to block the Nursing Act, and about 83% responded in favor of the strike. The Korean Nursing Assistant Association, which also opposes the enactment of the Nursing Act, has already conducted a leave-of-absence protest and has made it a foregone conclusion that it will join a general strike if the Nursing Act passes. However, it is expected to take some time for each organization to follow official procedures before initiating a strike or collective sick leave.

Professional organizations opposing the enactment of the Nursing Act are pinning their hopes on the ruling party’s announcement that it will request President Yoon Suk-yeol to exercise the right of reconsideration (veto) if the Nursing Act passes. However, opposition from the nursing sector is as predictable as fire, and there is a high possibility of immediate collective action. Regardless of the decision made, it is a situation where it will not be easy to escape the ‘Nursing Act black hole.’

Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyu-hong is announcing a comprehensive support plan for nursing personnel on the 25th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Meanwhile, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, expressed regret upon the passage of the Nursing Act but stated his intention to minimize confusion in the health and medical sector. He devoted efforts to appeasing the nursing sector by meeting with nursing organizations and frontline nurses daily to listen to their opinions on improving working conditions, even canceling plans to accompany President Yoon Suk-yeol on his state visit to the United States. On the 25th, he also advanced the announcement of a comprehensive support plan for nursing personnel, but ultimately, there was no tangible outcome.

Minister Cho said, “It is very regrettable that the Nursing Act was passed under the leadership of the opposition party without sufficient adjustment despite the government and ruling party’s mediation efforts amid the deep division and conflict in the health and medical sector over the Nursing Act.” He added, “I am concerned that conflicts and opposition among health and medical professions will cause confusion in medical sites, endangering the health and safety of the public, and I will do my best to prevent such incidents.” This can be interpreted as a commitment to actively respond if collective actions such as general strikes occur.