Ahn Cheol-soo: "Yongsan Staff, Try Spending Half a Day in the Emergency Room"

Criticism of Emergency Room Crisis Awareness
"Yoon's Absence from National Assembly Opening Ceremony Is Regrettable"

Regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's absence from the opening ceremony of the 22nd National Assembly held on the 2nd, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, said, "I wish the president had taken the first big step to restore politics," adding, "It is heartbreaking and regrettable."

Ahn Cheol-soo, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 3rd, on KBS Radio's 'Jeongyeok Sisa,' Rep. Ahn criticized, "Currently, the major opposition party is recklessly calling for special investigations and impeachment, and is fervently supporting a shielded National Assembly," adding, "The primary responsibility for the political disappearance lies with the major opposition party." He expressed regret over the National Assembly opening ceremony, saying, "Isn't the president the highest authority in state affairs? It is also true that if the National Assembly does not cooperate, it is impossible to lead the government."

The opening ceremony of the 22nd National Assembly was held 96 days after the start of the term amid confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. This is the 'longest delayed' opening since the establishment of the Sixth Republic in 1988. Speaker Woo Won-sik had planned to hold the opening ceremony on July 5, but it was canceled due to clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over the special investigation law on Chae Sang-byeong and the impeachment petition hearing for President Yoon. The president's absence is also the first since the direct presidential election amendment in 1987. Earlier, the presidential office stated that the president's attendance was meaningless in an abnormal situation where the National Assembly was not functioning properly. This is interpreted as the National Assembly not being ready to communicate due to repeated impeachments, hearings, personal attacks on the president's family, and claims of 'martial law preparations.'

Meanwhile, Rep. Ahn also voiced criticism regarding the emergency room crisis. He said that the problem is not that the emergency room doors are open, but that the Korean medical system is collapsing.

He explained, "Although emergency treatment is provided during Chuseok, only specialists and university professors are continuously on duty," adding, "They are also getting exhausted. There is a rapid increase in resignation letters." Rep. Ahn pointed out, "If people just go to the emergency room, see that the door is open, and leave, does that really grasp the situation?" He added, "If senior officials in the presidential office or government officials such as ministers and vice ministers stay in the emergency room for even half a day, they would quickly realize how serious the crisis is."