Prime Minister Han Duck-soo recently addressed the ongoing controversy over the Presidential Security Service's repeated 'excessive security' measures, stating that "these actions were unavoidable as they followed the basic rules for protecting the head of state."
On the 22nd, during a non-economic government questioning session at the National Assembly, Prime Minister Han made these remarks in response to a question from Lee In-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Lee pointed out that the Security Service had repeatedly silenced the mouths of lawmakers, KAIST graduates, and doctors, emphasizing the need to improve the Security Service's regulations.
Prime Minister Han explained, "The actions taken as part of security measures were carried out in accordance with security regulations," adding, "It is difficult to agree with the claim that mouths were being silenced."
Earlier, controversies over excessive protocol arose as the Security Service was seen forcibly silencing and removing lawmakers, students, and others at events attended by President Yoon Suk-yeol.
On the 18th of last month, Kang Sung-hee, a member of the Progressive Party, was dragged out by security personnel after shaking hands with President Yoon at the launch ceremony of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province and saying, "The national policy direction must change."
Additionally, on the 16th, a graduate affiliated with the Green Justice Party's Daejeon branch, who was protesting the reduction of research and development (R&D) budgets at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) graduation ceremony, was also forcibly removed.
Jinbo Party lawmaker Kang Seong-hee caused a commotion while President Yoon Seok-yeol was entering and shaking hands with attendees at the launch ceremony of Jeonbuk Special Autonomous Province held at Moak Hall, Korea Sound Culture Hall in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si on the 18th of last month, and was restrained by security guards and escorted out. [Photo by Yonhap News]
It was also recently revealed that Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Society, was forcibly dragged out by Security Service staff while attempting to speak against government policies at a public discussion held on the 1st at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
Regarding the issue of increasing medical school quotas by 2,000 students, Prime Minister Han emphasized, "We have had sufficient discussions with the medical community."
He stated, "We have held over 130 discussions with doctors and made more than 28 efforts to engage with the Korean Medical Association," adding, "We are creating basic policies for medical reform, one of South Korea's biggest challenges, and as part of this, we are promoting an increase in medical school quotas."
In response to a question from Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, about whether increasing medical school quotas by 2,000 might lower the quality of education, Prime Minister Han said, "After reviewing all 40 medical schools nationwide with the government and experts, we concluded that 2,000 additional students can be adequately accommodated," and added, "Increasing the average by about 50 students per school can be managed without compromising educational quality."
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