The Presidential Office stated on the 4th that it is necessary to "observe the process of consultation between the ruling and opposition parties first" in response to Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposing the formation of an 'Emergency Consultative Body of Ruling and Opposition Parties, Medical Community, and Government' to resolve the medical sector crisis.
A Presidential Office official said to reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day, "It is understood that the ruling and opposition parties have not reached an agreement on issues such as medical support," adding that since there is a significant difference in views between the parties regarding solutions to the medical sector crisis, an agreement must be reached first for progress to be possible.
Park, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said in a representative speech of the parliamentary negotiation groups at the National Assembly, "This is not the time to hold the lives of the people hostage and be stubborn," and proposed, "The ruling and opposition parties should put their heads together, and the medical community and government should also participate to achieve a social grand compromise."
He added, "Even at this very moment, patients are going around emergency rooms in circles. The emergency medical system is in a critical situation of virtual collapse," and said, "This is not the time to worry about pride or distinguish between ruling and opposition parties."
Earlier, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, also proposed the formation of a task force to find solutions to the medical crisis during a meeting with Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party.
Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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