Lee Ju-ho: "If the medical community makes reasonable proposals, we will engage in open dialogue"

Visiting Kyungpook National University Medical School for a Meeting on the 1st

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, visited Kyungpook National University College of Medicine on the 1st and stated, "As the President mentioned in his address, if the medical community immediately stops collective actions and presents reasonable proposals based on scientific evidence, the government will engage in dialogue with an open attitude."

On the afternoon of the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Lee held a meeting at Kyungpook National University College of Medicine with Hong Won-hwa, President of Kyungpook National University, Kwon Tae-hwan, Dean of Kyungpook National University College of Medicine, and Yang Dong-heon, Director of Kyungpook National University Hospital, and made these remarks. Earlier, President Yoon Suk-yeol said in a national address in the morning, "The medical community should present a unified plan to the government based on clear scientific evidence," adding, "If they bring more reasonable and rational measures, we can discuss them anytime."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Deputy Prime Minister Lee also referred to the death of a 33-month-old girl that occurred in Chungbuk at the end of last month, emphasizing, "Medical reform aims to preserve essential regional healthcare and eliminate the medical gap between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas to protect the lives of the people, and increasing the number of medical school quotas is an essential condition for medical reform."

To the Kyungpook National University officials attending the meeting, he said, "Please actively communicate with members to achieve medical reform for the people," and added, "We will create a medical ecosystem that supports regionally complete essential healthcare centered on base universities."

Regarding the delay in academic schedules such as the start of the semester due to students' collective actions, he urged, "If abnormal academic operations continue for a long time, the damage will fall on the students," and requested, "Please help the students to follow the right path."

Deputy Prime Minister Lee also promised, "Since medical students are valuable talents who will be responsible for the future of healthcare, please return to your studies promptly and present your opinions to the government," and assured, "We will provide necessary support to prevent any damage once you return."

It is known that during the closed-door meeting held that day, the Ministry of Education reviewed the universities' plans and preparations to improve educational conditions following the allocation of medical school quotas and collected opinions from the medical schools.