Park Minsu Absent from Ruling Party-Hosted Legislative Conflict Forum... Kim Jaeseop "Is This the Government's Attitude?"

First Pastoral Meeting to Hold Mediation Proposal Debate on Legislative Conflict on the Afternoon of the 5th
Emergency Medical Association President and Other Medical Figures Expected to Attend
Deputy Minister Park Minsu Was Scheduled to Attend but Announced Absence a Day Before
Park Sangsu: "Deputy Minister Park Fled in Front of Everyone"

Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, who became embroiled in controversy over his remarks on the criteria for 'mild and severe' cases, notified that he would not attend the legislative conflict debate hosted by the People Power Party on the 5th.

According to the People Power Party and others, Vice Minister Park informed Assemblyman Kim Jae-seop the day before that he would not attend the first Mokhoe (a gathering of the People Power Party's 3040 young leaders) debate on the topic of mediating legislative conflicts.

The debate was scheduled to be held that afternoon at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Vice Minister Park, who is in charge of medical reform affairs and responding to the medical crisis, was originally expected to attend but changed his position a day before.

Assemblyman Kim Jae-seop criticized on Facebook regarding Vice Minister Park's notification of absence from the debate, saying, "I empathized with the necessity of medical reform and, despite many concerns, refrained from criticism trusting the government's direction," adding, "I confirmed that the president and government's perception of the medical field differs from reality."

He also said, "Vice Minister Park reversed his position a day before the event, notifying that 'due to many other duties, it is difficult to attend,'" and "My request to 'adjust the schedule and provide possible dates' was ignored." He particularly pointed out, "Is this the government's attitude to resolve legislative conflicts? How can they persuade the public without the courage to meet, debate, and convince ruling party lawmakers and district committee chairpersons?"

Regarding the current emergency room situation, he stated, "I saw a news report the other day about a 2-year-old child who fell into an unconscious state after being sent around the emergency room multiple times. Parents are anxiously pacing, worried about their child’s illness, so why can't the government share that concern? Or rather, why won’t they?" He emphasized, "Medical reform is absolutely necessary and urgent. However, there is no justification for reform more important than the lives of the people. The president and government must face reality."

Park Min-su, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, is attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting related to the doctors' collective action at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 27th, engaging in conversation. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Park Sang-su, spokesperson for the People Power Party (district committee chairperson of Seo-gu Gap, Incheon), also wrote on Facebook that day, "(At the debate) Lee Hyung-min, president of the Emergency Medical Association, Kim Yi-yeon, former director of public relations for the Korean Medical Association, and Park Eun-sik, former emergency committee member, were scheduled to attend," and sharply criticized, "Vice Minister Park fled in front of all of them just one day before."

He added, "We will neither erase Vice Minister Park’s name from the banner today nor remove his nameplate. We must do politics and bureaucracy solely for the people," and questioned, "The representatives of the people, especially ruling party lawmakers, want to have a discussion?what on earth is going on?"

Vice Minister Park has been criticized not only by the medical community but also by ruling party figures for his remarks on the criteria distinguishing mild and severe patients. Earlier, during an appearance on MBC Radio the previous day, when asked whether patients themselves could judge the severity of their symptoms, he said, "If the patient can call and check, that itself can be understood as a mild case."

He further stated, "Severe cases are mostly those who are unconscious or paralyzed to the extent that they cannot do anything by themselves. Cases with high fever, sudden abdominal pain, or severe bleeding from a torn area are also considered mild," which has intensified the controversy.

Kim Jong-hyuk, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "Drastic measures are needed. It must start with those responsible taking responsibility," effectively calling for Vice Minister Park’s replacement. Although Kim did not mention Vice Minister Park’s name during the meeting, he told reporters, "Supreme Council member In Yo-han, a doctor, said that even if only half of a stroke occurs, the patient can speak, but he said it is serious."

Park Min-su, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, is deep in thought while attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on doctors' collective action held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 7th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@