Lee Jae-myung: "Han Dong-hoon Agrees on Medical Crisis in Bipartisan Council... Yongsan Remains Unchanged"

"Medical School Expansion Needs Reconsideration"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said that Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, also agreed on forming a bipartisan agreement body to resolve the medical crisis, proposing an emergency consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties, medical professionals, and the government.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung visited Korea University Anam Hospital in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the 4th along with the Democratic Party's Medical Crisis Countermeasures Special Committee. After assessing the medical response capacity for the Chuseok holiday, he is moving to hold a briefing.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 4th, Lee visited the Anam Hospital of Korea University in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, to check the emergency response capacity during the Chuseok holiday. After inspecting the site, he held a closed-door meeting. After the meeting, Lee told reporters, "I confirmed through specific figures and graphs that the situation is very unfavorable," adding, "I confirmed that the likelihood of the situation worsening is greater than the possibility of improvement."

Lee revealed that Han also supported the formation of a consultative body between the ruling and opposition parties to devise measures against the medical crisis. The ruling party showed some consensus on the emergency consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties, medical professionals, and the government proposed by the Democratic Party. Lee said, "Han and I agreed on creating a kind of bipartisan discussion body," adding, "The chairman of the Policy Committee reported to me this morning that the Policy Committee chairman and the floor leader of the People Power Party agreed to create a discussion table together." However, he added, "Although an emergency medical crisis is expected during Chuseok, I am not optimistic about whether effective alternatives can be produced."

Regarding the issue of increasing medical school admissions, Lee said, "The postponement of the increase in medical school admissions until 2026, proposed by Han, could be a viable alternative to open the door to solving the problem," adding, "The fundamental cause of this issue is that while the direction and aim of increasing medical school admissions are desirable, the scale, duration, decision-making process, and content were unilaterally decided without sufficient dialogue or reasonable grounds."

He emphasized, "It is not simply a matter of increasing the number of doctors," and added, "A comprehensive and fundamental review must be conducted, connecting how to secure regional medical care, public healthcare, and essential medical services."

Lee criticized the Yongsan Presidential Office's attitude as coercive and pointed out the need for communication. He said, "The Yongsan Presidential Office's stance is so inflexible that it makes me feel despair about whether such dialogue or discussion can take place," adding, "Dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties, as well as between the government and political circles, is absolutely necessary." Furthermore, he explained, "Even if there is consensus between the ruling and opposition parties, I am very pessimistic about whether the government will accept it," and added, "The current situation is serious and dangerous, so we need to accurately grasp the reality, organize public opinion well, and focus on conveying it to the ruling party and the government."