"Felt Reform Will" vs "Resign from Party"... People's Power Divided into Two After President Yoon's Statement

Ham Un-kyung "Respectfully Requesting Withdrawal from Party Membership"
Won Hee-ryong "Government Is Ready to Discuss All Opinions Together"

After President Yoon Seok-yeol's statement regarding the increase in medical school quotas, mixed reactions emerged within the People Power Party. While some voices called for resignation from the party, others welcomed the statement.

Ham Woon-kyung, the People Power Party candidate running in Mapo-gu Eul, Seoul, demanded through social media on the 1st, "President Yoon should step away from politics and focus solely on fair election management." He also criticized, "If he insists on such administrative and bureaucratic logic, I politely request that he leave the cumbersome People Power Party membership." Prior to the statement, Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the People Power Party election committee running in Bundang-gu Gap, Seongnam, said on SBS Radio on the 27th of last month, "(The increase in medical school quotas) of 4,000 or 2,000 is, in my opinion, all haphazard," and demanded, "Let's reconsider the appropriate number for the medical school quota increase." On the same day, Ahn also said at the Central Election Committee meeting, "I strongly urge the government once again to reconsider the medical school quota increase plan through a pan-social medical reform consultative body," adding, "Furthermore, it is inevitable to dismiss the government officials responsible for causing the medical crisis."

On the 1st, amid the prolonged medical-government conflict over the plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 students, citizens at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, are watching President Yoon Seok-yeol's national address regarding healthcare reform. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the other hand, supportive voices poured out regarding President Yoon's statement. Jo Jung-hoon, the People Power Party candidate running in Mapo-gu Gap, Seoul, said on social media, "I welcome the president's message toward a consensus that meets the people's expectations." Jo added, "I watched the president's public address carefully. I felt a strong will to listen to the people's voices and meet their expectations," and urged, "The Medical Association should not oppose unconditionally or cause trouble. Since the government has extended a hand, now they must present a plan that meets the people's expectations on how to maintain the medical system."

Won Hee-ryong, the People Power Party candidate running in Gyeyang-gu Eul, Incheon, also praised the statement, saying, "Since the government said it is ready to discuss all opinions with reasonable grounds, residents should return to their posts, and medical organizations should sit at the negotiation table with the government and start discussions." He added, "The president said that ‘the most precious absolute value to him is the life of the people.’ I believe that all doctors in the Republic of Korea share the same view as the president."

Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, also said on social media, "The president's statement appears to be sufficiently persuasive," and urged, "Doctors should take the lead in protecting the people's right to health by engaging in dialogue with the authorities rather than clinging to vested interest cartels to protect their professional territories." He also said, "Looking at the government's medical reform policy, which the opposition party seems to watch like a fire across the river ahead of the election, one can guess that the direction of the government's medical reform policy is correct."

Mayor Hong strongly opposed candidate Ham, who demanded President Yoon's resignation from the party. He criticized, "It's not even a presidential election, and you dare to demand the president leave the party just a few days after joining?" He added, "If you lack ability and lose the election, at least go around the neighborhoods and plead. I have never seen a ruling party candidate who blames the president and wins the election." Mayor Hong also said, "Bowing your head to the backlash won't help you live," and "A deeply rooted tree does not shake in the wind."