On the 13th, the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU), which went on a nationwide general strike, held a large-scale strike rally in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, amid heavy rain. Although most essential medical personnel in emergency rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units, and delivery rooms were maintained, avoiding major disruption in medical sites, some outpatient appointments were affected.
On the 13th, union members belonging to the Health and Medical Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally on Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, demanding an increase in medical personnel and improvement of working conditions, and resolved to win the July sector-wide general strike. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
About 20,000 KHMU members gathered at the rally held that afternoon. Na Soon-ja, chairperson of the KHMU, criticized, "Before the strike, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stopped dialogue and negotiations. They locked the door to dialogue," adding, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare, which cut off communication, provoked the strike." Regarding criticism that the strike was 'political,' she retorted, "If resolving the public's burden of expensive nursing care and saving public hospitals that protect people's lives is called a political strike, then isn't such a political strike necessary?"
The union chanted slogans demanding ▲ full expansion of integrated nursing and caregiving service wards to resolve high nursing care costs ▲ guaranteeing patient safety by maintaining a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:5 per shift ▲ establishing appropriate staffing standards and clarifying work scope ▲ increasing physician workforce to eradicate illegal medical practices ▲ expanding public healthcare and supporting recovery hospitals dedicated to COVID-19 ▲ providing fair compensation and improving treatment for COVID-19 heroes ▲ halting labor reforms and abolishing special labor hour exceptions, among seven key demands.
On the 13th, union members belonging to the Health and Medical Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally on Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, demanding an increase in medical personnel and improvement of working conditions, and resolved to win the July sector-wide general strike. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
Despite this large-scale general strike, fortunately, there appears to be no 'medical crisis' such as essential medical service gaps. The union decided to maintain essential personnel directly related to patient lives, such as those in emergency rooms and intensive care units, during the strike. The union also stated, "Contrary to some concerns, there will be no medical crisis or serious medical service gaps." In fact, hospitals participating in the strike experienced no major disruptions. Among Seoul's tertiary general hospitals, Hanyang University Hospital and Korea University Anam Hospital, which joined the strike, operated most outpatient, inpatient, and emergency services normally.
However, some hospitals responded by partially reducing outpatient and ward services to ensure patient safety. Chungnam National University Hospital informed patients and guardians that "due to the hospital union's participation in the strike, normal medical services are expected to be difficult, and some outpatient and ward services are being reduced," adding, "This is a measure to prevent risks such as patient safety issues and medical accidents." Jeonbuk National University Hospital also announced, "To ensure patient safety, some wards and outpatient services have been inevitably closed or reduced."
On the 13th, when the Health and Medical Workers' Union began a large-scale general strike for the first time in 19 years, a banner reflecting the union members' opinions was hung at Ewha Seoul Hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
About 60,000 union members from 112 branches and 140 workplaces of the KHMU are participating in this strike. Excluding 15,000 workers assigned to essential maintenance duties, the actual number of strikers is 45,000. Participating branches include 20 private university hospital branches (28 workplaces) such as Korea University Medical Center, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Ajou Medical Center, Ewha Medical Center, Hallym Medical Center, and Hanyang Medical Center; 7 national university hospital branches (12 workplaces) including Pusan National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Hospital, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, and Chungnam National University Hospital; 12 special-purpose public hospital branches (12 workplaces) such as National Medical Center, National Cancer Center, Veterans Hospital, and Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences; 26 Korean Red Cross branches (26 workplaces) including the Red Cross Blood Center, Red Cross Hospital, and Testing Center; 26 local medical center branches (26 workplaces) such as Gyeonggi Medical Center, Busan Medical Center, Incheon Medical Center, and Hongseong Medical Center; 19 private small and medium hospital branches (19 workplaces) including Bupyeong Serim Hospital, Gwangju Christian Hospital, and Jeongeup Asan Hospital; 6 mental health, rehabilitation, and nursing medical institution branches (6 workplaces); and 6 irregular worker branches (11 workplaces) covering cleaning, parking, facilities, and security. Among the total 45 tertiary general hospitals, 20 are participating in the KHMU general strike.
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