Handonghun "Public inconvenience and anxiety grow due to medical service gaps"
Visits to medical sites and comprehensive activities including postponement of medical school expansion
Opposition party agrees with ruling and opposition parties, medical and government consultative body proposal
Presidential Office "Zero-base review possible during discussion process"
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, proposed on the 6th to "form and operate a consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties, medical professionals, and the government to alleviate public anxiety over the medical service gap and improve regional and essential medical systems." The Presidential Office responded positively to Han's proposal, stating, "If the medical community presents a reasonable plan, we are willing to discuss it from a zero base at any time." With the Presidential Office's favorable response to Han's proposal, attention is focused on whether an exit from the 'medical crisis' situation will be found.
On the same day, Han met with reporters at the Korea Christian Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and said, "As a prolonged medical service gap has occurred due to the issue of medical school quotas, public inconvenience is increasing, and there is significant public anxiety about the emergency medical system."
Regarding the possibility of participation from the medical community, Han appealed, "If the medical community cannot participate, discussions should at least begin among the ruling and opposition parties and the government, and it would be good if they join the discussions at any time. If the medical community does not participate, this problem cannot be resolved."
Han Dong-hoon Rushes to Normalize Medical Field
Han's proposal on this day was intended to bring together the ruling and opposition parties, medical professionals, and the government to seek reasonable alternatives for normalizing medical sites and services, medical reform, and increasing medical school quotas.
Earlier, on the 2nd, Han had agreed with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, during a meeting between the two party leaders to create a consultative body between the ruling and opposition parties to prepare measures against the medical crisis. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, also repeatedly proposed the formation of a consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties, medical professionals, and the government to resolve the medical crisis during his speech on the 4th.
When asked by reporters whether this was being pursued separately from Park's proposal, Han explained, "Several responsible figures in the Democratic Party said a consultative body for dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties is necessary. Since this is not much different from what we are proposing, I don't think the opposition party will oppose it. We are discussing it to find a good solution."
With concerns about the medical crisis becoming a reality ahead of the Chuseok holiday and public sentiment worsening toward the government and ruling party, Han's intention is also interpreted as an effort to create a reconciliation phase between the government and the medical community together with the opposition party. After meeting Park Dan, emergency committee chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association, on the 20th of last month, Han proposed a postponement of the increase in medical school quotas for the 2026 academic year to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong at a high-level party-government meeting on the 25th of the same month, but was rejected.
Nevertheless, Han inspected the emergency room situation at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul on the 2nd and met with Jang Sang-yoon, senior secretary for social affairs to the president, the day before to re-request the postponement of the 2026 medical school quota increase. Through these comprehensive activities, he has been continuously persuading. On the same day, Han visited Jang Jong-hyun, chairman of the Korea Christian Federation, at the Korea Christian Building and later met Archbishop Jeong Soon-taek at the Seoul Archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Jung-gu, Seoul, which appears to be an effort to soothe public anger through visits to religious leaders.
Presidential Office Responds Positively to Han's Proposal: "Medical Community Must Join the Table"
The Presidential Office expressed a positive stance immediately after Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, proposed the formation of a 'consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties, medical professionals, and the government.' This is interpreted as recognizing the need for a negotiation table amid growing public concern over the recurring emergency room rotation issue.
A senior official from the Presidential Office told reporters, "It is a priority for the medical community to come to the discussion table," adding, "If the medical community presents a reasonable plan regarding the medical school quota issue, we are willing to discuss it from a zero base at any time." The government is open to adjusting the medical school quota for 2026, which was announced as 2,000, if the medical community brings reasonable and concrete proposals.
The official also said, "There is a policy to form a consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties, medical professionals, and the government to resolve the medical crisis," and added, "If the medical community brings reasonable and scientific estimates, we can discuss openly and sincerely with an open mind." The official further stated, "It is positive that the medical community, government, and opposition party participate and have proper discussions, and through the discussion process, issues such as medical school quotas can be reviewed from a zero base."
Amid the ongoing emergency room treatment crisis, on the 4th, patients are moving in front of the Regional Emergency Medical Center at Ewha Mokdong Hospital in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, where military doctors have been additionally assigned to Kangwon National University Hospital, Ewha Mokdong Hospital, and Sejong Chungnam Hospital. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@
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