"Don't Pass Over Us" Medical Residents and KMA: "There Is a Misunderstanding... Actively Considering Observing the Winter Special Committee"

'Asking the Korean Medical Association' Meeting Held

The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which had conflicts over solutions to the legislative-executive conflict, held a meeting with residents. The KMA announced that it would actively consider allowing residents to observe the 'Special Committee for Proper Medical Care' (Special Committee).

On the afternoon of the 28th, the KMA held a meeting called 'Ask the KMA' at the KMA Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, targeting residents and medical students. The KMA explained the purpose of the meeting, saying, "We invite you to a Q&A session without topic restrictions to alleviate the frustrations of our members and strengthen communication with them."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

It is reported that about 30 residents and medical students attended the meeting that day. However, Park Dan, the representative of the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), a resident organization, did not attend.

Residents reportedly expressed dissatisfaction at the meeting, saying that the KMA excluded residents from medical meetings such as the Special Committee. The Special Committee has positions for residents, including a co-chair and three committee members, and one committee member position for the Korean Medical Student Association (KMSA), a medical student organization. However, since the KIRA and the KMSA emergency committees have refused to participate in the Special Committee, their voices have not been effectively reflected.

In response, the KMA reportedly stated that it would actively consider ways for residents to observe the Special Committee meetings even if they are not emergency committee members of KIRA.

The KMA's arrangement of the meeting appears to be in recognition of criticism that it has not communicated smoothly with residents, who are at the core of the medical service gap. In particular, KMA President Lim Hyun-taek clashed online with Park Dan, the representative of KIRA.

Earlier, on the 13th, Park posted on his social media, sharing news about the formation of a single medical community channel centered on the KMA, writing, "What kind of person is President Lim Hyun-taek? Center? Why does he keep insisting that he is the center?" In response, President Lim left a message in an online group chat of some residents, saying, "Should the KMA stop caring about resident issues and withdraw? If that is what you want, the KMA no longer wishes to intervene," confronting them.