Joguk "During President Moon's term, doctors went on a total strike"
Lee Taegyu "Are they sabotaging medical reform?"
As the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is pushing to expand medical school quotas, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk pointed out that the medical community is showing a double standard compared to when the Moon Jae-in administration pursued the expansion of medical school quotas. In this regard, the ruling party criticized, saying, "Are they encouraging the medical community's strike?"
Lee Tae-gyu, senior deputy chairman of the People Power Party's Policy Committee, raised his voice at the National Assembly's audit countermeasures meeting on the 24th, saying, "Why is Cho so petty?" and "Cho's criticism of the medical community, which is seriously engaged with the government's policy on expanding medical school quotas, is simply an attempt to throw a wrench into the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's medical reform."
Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges including allegations of covering up an inspection and admission fraud involving his children, is attending a trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on June 25, 2021. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
Earlier, Cho appeared on the Democratic Party-leaning YouTube channel 'Park Si-young TV' and criticized, "When President Moon Jae-in said he would increase medical school quotas by 400, doctors and medical students went on a total strike despite the COVID-19 crisis. But now that President Yoon Suk-yeol says he will increase it by 1,000, they are docile."
In response, Rep. Lee said, "Cho's argument is that the medical community opposed the expansion of medical school quotas during the Moon administration but is compliant under the Yoon administration, questioning why they do not oppose it now. Is Cho encouraging the medical community's strike?"
He also pointed out that Cho's criticism stems from personal feelings. He said, "Especially when he says, 'I cannot be soft on the Yoon administration,' he is confessing that his remarks are fueled by emotions over judicial actions against him and his family, including his children's admission scandals. In short, he cannot distinguish right from wrong and is utterly petty."
Lee Tae-gyu, a member of the People Power Party, is questioning during the audit of the Ministry of Education and the National Education Commission held at the National Assembly Education Committee on the 11th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
He also highlighted that failing to increase medical school quotas could lead to the collapse of the medical ecosystem. He said, "The collapse of regional and essential medical ecosystems that South Korea is currently facing threatens the health and lives of the people and, if neglected, could lead to social and national disasters. Expanding medical school quotas to secure necessary essential medical personnel and restore the regional medical ecosystem is an urgent national and public reform task."
Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties are finding common ground on the issue of expanding medical school quotas. Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed support for the government's plan to increase medical school quotas, saying, "Increasing medical school quotas is a crucial issue concerning the public's health rights." Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party who has returned to party affairs, also expressed agreement, saying, "Expanding medical school quotas is essential to expand regional and public healthcare."
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