Special Committee on the Entire Medical Community "No Change in Indefinite Strike Plan on the 27th"

KMA 'Proper Medical Special Committee' Holds First Meeting
Sharing Plans for Clinic Closures, Will Monitor Government's Attitude
"There Are Doctors Willing to Participate in Medical Policy Talks Including 2025 Quotas"

The 'Special Committee for Proper Medical Care (Oltukwi),' a pan-medical sector committee involving medical school professors and local medical associations, announced on the 22nd that their plan for an 'indefinite strike starting on the 27th' remains unchanged.

On the 20th, the Korea Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The Korea Medical Association announced that instead of launching the "Pan-Medical Community Countermeasures Committee (Pan Committee)" as previously planned, it will launch the "Special Committee for Proper Medical Care (Special Committee)." Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Choi Anna, spokesperson for Oltukwi and the Korea Medical Association (KMA), stated after the first Oltukwi meeting held at the KMA building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, "There was no discussion about an indefinite strike. The push for the strike remains unchanged from before."

Although it was expected that the meeting would discuss whether to proceed with the indefinite collective strike on the 27th, which KMA President Lim Hyuntaek had previously announced unexpectedly, this was denied. President Lim had announced on the 18th during a rally that the medical community would enter an indefinite strike starting on the 27th without consulting other medical organizations, drawing criticism for being uncommunicative.

In response, the KMA initially stated in a briefing on the 20th that the decision on the indefinite strike would be made at the Oltukwi meeting on the 22nd, but immediately after the briefing, they reversed their statement, saying they would not decide on the indefinite strike at that time.

Oltukwi explained in a message announcing the meeting results, "We shared plans for strikes by major universities and other strategies for government opposition," and added, "We respect the predetermined strike plans of Yonsei University College of Medicine and Ulsan University College of Medicine."

They further stated, "Going forward, we agreed to establish a systematic plan for collective action rather than individual actions by each medical sector," and "We will also observe the upcoming National Assembly hearing scheduled for next week and the government's attitude changes."

Oltukwi also welcomed the government's stance that "dialogue is possible regardless of format or agenda," and expressed their willingness to participate in medical policy discussions, including the 2025 medical school admission quotas.

This emphasized their intention to include next year's medical school quotas in the dialogue agenda, highlighting the ongoing difference in position with the government, which has already finalized the 2025 admission quotas and considers them irreversible.

The KMA announced the formation of Oltukwi on the 20th, stating that a representative of resident doctors would participate; however, Park Dan, the emergency committee chairperson of the Korean Intern Resident Association (Daeryeonhyeop), later expressed his intention not to participate and was absent from the meeting on this day.

Regarding this, Oltukwi stated, "The current composition of Oltukwi will be maintained," indicating their willingness to wait longer for the resident doctors.

Oltukwi decided to hold meetings every Saturday afternoon. The next meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on the 29th.