Health and Medical Workers' Union "Disappointed by President's Address Lacking Solutions for Normalizing Medical Services"

"Proving the Government Is Right Is a Waste of Time"
Welcoming the Government's Willingness to Dialogue

The Korea Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol's public address regarding the increase in medical school quotas, stating that there was "no concrete solution presented for the normalization of medical care."

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@

In a statement on the 2nd, the KHMU claimed, "President Yoon emphasized that 'the absolute value most precious to me as president is the life of the people,' but for over 40 days, he has failed to resolve the doctors' refusal to provide care, which threatens patients' lives, and has instead worsened the situation."

The union added, "What is more concerning is that there is still not a single mention of strengthening public healthcare, nor any concrete alternatives on how to reinforce essential and regional medical services. Instead, there is a clear intention to push forward medical industrialization." They emphasized, "Now is not the time to waste time repeating existing positions to prove the government's correctness, but to promptly create a practical dialogue platform to normalize medical care."

Regarding President Yoon's remark that "government policies are always open," the union said, "Fortunately, President Yoon has shown willingness to engage in dialogue and establish a social dialogue body." They expressed hope that "through open policy discussions and the formation of a social dialogue system, a prompt normalization of medical care and solutions for medical reform will be achieved."

The union also demanded ▲ the presentation of concrete solutions ▲ participation of medical associations in dialogue ▲ and proposals from general election candidates on solutions to the medical service gap.

President Yoon's public address was delivered on the 1st in the form of a "Message to the People." While criticizing the withdrawal of residents from medical sites, he left room for dialogue by stating, "If better opinions and reasonable grounds are presented, government policies can be changed in a better direction."