Health and Medical Workers' Union Urges Prompt Establishment of Gyeongnam Medical Center Jinju Hospital

The Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters of the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union has expressed opposition to the rejection of the Gyeongnam Jinju Hospital building and land acquisition plan for public property management by the provincial council.

On the 6th, the Health and Medical Labor Union held a press conference in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government building, urging Gyeongnam Province and the provincial council to promptly establish the Gyeongnam Medical Center Jinju Hospital.

In front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office entrance, the Health and Medical Workers' Union and others are holding a press conference urging the establishment of the Gyeongnam Medical Center Jinju Hospital.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

"The western Gyeongnam region is designated as one of the six major medically underserved areas nationwide due to a lack of medical infrastructure, making a public hospital absolutely necessary," they stated. "In public discussions and surveys, 96% of residents support the establishment of a public hospital, and 92% expressed willingness to use it, demonstrating the strong demand and aspiration of local residents for a public hospital."

They criticized the approval of the amended Gyeongnam Province public property management plan at last month's provincial council meeting, which included the rejection of the Jinju Hospital land purchase and new construction.

The Ulsan Gyeongnam branch of the Health and Medical Workers' Union is delivering documents requesting a meeting with Governor Park Wan-su.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

They said, "The Gyeongnam Provincial Council has put the brakes on the establishment of a public hospital in western Gyeongnam. The Planning and Administration Committee of the council deleted the land purchase and new construction for the Gyeongnam Medical Center, and the plenary session confirmed this, halting the establishment."

"The council claims that additional review and discussion are needed regarding the scale, appropriateness, and urgency of the Jinju Hospital establishment project due to deficits and medical workforce supply issues, but reviews, discussions, and agreements have already been made over the past 10 years," they added.

"We must not undermine the purity and identity of regional public healthcare by concerns over profitability, market logic, deficit and surplus debates, or worries about private hospital management," they emphasized. "Establish Jinju Hospital promptly to improve the health level of local residents, enhance access to medical care, and resolve medical inequality."

After the press conference, they submitted a document to the provincial government requesting a meeting with Governor Park Wan-su regarding the establishment of the western Gyeongnam public hospital.

A scuffle is occurring between the Health and Medical Workers' Union and the provincial government building security guards.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Earlier that day, a five-minute scuffle occurred between the press conference participants and the provincial government security guards over the location of the press conference.

During the press conference, security guards stood facing the participants directly in front of them.

Gyeongnam Province stated that from the moment they learned of the press conference until the day before, they discussed the venue with the union but ultimately the union did not accept the proposed location.

A security guard said, "Holding the press conference in front of the main entrance could pose safety risks due to proximity to the parking lot and could cause inconvenience to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, so we guided them to the provincial government press center."

"To avoid setting a precedent for holding press conferences in front of the main entrance, we even adjusted the schedule at the press center to keep the venue available, but since the conference was held in front of the entrance, we had to take measures for safety management," he added.