"Hero Enduring Bullying"... Cancer Patients Send 47 Handwritten Letters to Medical Staff

Handwritten Letters and Snacks Delivered to Remaining Residents on Site
Director Ju Young-su: "We Will Do Our Best to Resolve the Situation"

Amid prolonged conflicts between the medical community and the government over increasing the number of medical school admissions, patients with severe cancer expressed their gratitude by delivering handwritten letters and refreshments to the medical staff filling the gap in frontline care.

On the afternoon of the 17th, Kim Seong-ju, the representative of the Korea Severe Disease Association (left), is taking a commemorative photo with Joo Young-soo, the director of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, after delivering a "Thank You Letter to Medical Staff Protecting the Medical Field."
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 17th, the Korea Severe Disease Alliance, composed of six patient organizations including the Korea Cancer Patient Rights Association, visited the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, to deliver 47 thank-you letters written by patients and refreshments to the medical staff.

Cancer patient A, who delivered the letters on behalf of the patients, said, "I am currently battling breast cancer. I wanted to personally give these letters to the doctors, so I came up from Gwangju with my son." He read aloud the letters written by patients to Director Joo Young-soo and Deputy Director Cho Young-jung of the National Medical Center, who received the letters on behalf of the medical staff.

A cancer patient who sent a letter from Changwon wrote, "The sudden arrival of cancer made our lives uncomfortable and difficult, but with good medical staff by our side, we were overcoming it. However, hearing that the doctors are leaving one after another only makes me anxious," adding, "I want to express my gratitude to the doctors who stay in their positions and give us hope despite these difficult circumstances."

A patient’s guardian, who identified themselves as "a family member of a cancer patient who gained a life called tomorrow thanks to the doctors," said, "Because of the doctors, we patients and our guardians were able to receive stable treatment and envision a healthy tomorrow," and added, "I hope the doctors who always put patients first stay healthy, and I respect the difficult decisions they have made."

Kim Sung-joo, president of the Severe Disease Alliance, who accompanied patient A, said, "The remaining residents endure ridicule and accusations of betrayal from their peers while quietly fulfilling their duties as doctors," and added, "Patients regard them as more than heroes and are deeply grateful."

Director Joo Young-soo said on the day, "I feel sorry for the patients fighting illness, and hearing their heartfelt words in these times makes me feel even more responsible," adding, "I will do my best to resolve the situation as much as possible."

Deputy Director Cho Young-jung also said, "As a medical professional, I feel deeply sorry, and I imagine both patients and guardians must be very frustrated," adding, "I don’t have any special solutions, but ultimately, doctors need to be by the patients’ side. I will do my best in providing care."