Yoo Seung-min "Han Dong-hoon is trying his best... When on the right path, you must risk everything"

"President Yoon Should Support Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jae-myung"
"A Complete Abolition of 2025 Admission Quotas Is Now Unrealistic"
Health Ministry Minister and Vice Minister Must Be Replaced to Restore Trust

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min advised Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, on the 12th, saying, "What is truly the right path for the country and the people? When deeply considering that and choosing the right path, it is necessary to have an attitude where you can stake everything."

On the same day, Yoo appeared on CBS Radio and made this remark regarding Han while discussing the medical crisis triggered by the expansion of medical school quotas. Yoo also evaluated Han, who is showing mediation efforts such as proposing a ruling-party, opposition, medical community, and government consultative body, by saying, "He is making efforts in his own way."

Regarding solutions to the conflict between the medical community and the government, Yoo said that President Yoon Seok-youl should meet not only with Han but also with Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. He advised, "To resolve this issue, the president should not just take an attitude of 'You figure it out among yourselves,' but rather say, 'If there is a good proposal, I will accept it unconditionally, so don’t think about my (President Yoon’s) opinion, but meet with Leader Han, Leader Lee, representatives of the medical community, and the newly appointed ministers and vice ministers of the government to have a dialogue.' To encourage them, the president should meet the leaders of both parties again."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, regarding solutions to the medical-government conflict, Yoo first called for the dismissal of the Minister and Vice Minister of Health and Welfare. Yoo said, "The initial intention of the Minister and Vice Minister of Health and Welfare to reform was good, but their methods were very wrong and the policies were flawed, so they should be held accountable and dismissed." He added, "It is necessary to start with their dismissal, open the door to dialogue, and show that there is a readiness to engage in sincere talks by restoring some degree of trust."

However, he also expressed the opinion that adjusting the medical school quotas for 2025 would be difficult, even though the medical education system has already been disrupted due to the ongoing early admission application process. He said, "If the president had made a decision earlier and proposed, for example, increasing next year’s quota by 500 instead of 1,500 to gradually increase it, I believe I could have persuaded the residents, but that opportunity has passed." He expressed concern, saying, "If 4,610 students are admitted next year, medical schools will have to teach over 7,500 first-year students plus 3,000 who have repeated a year, which will cause the medical education system to become a complete mess." Regarding next year’s quota adjustment, he said, "I think it is difficult. Students and parents will file lawsuits, and if lawsuits are filed, it is obvious the government will lose. Since the government has already made promises before the lawsuits, it would be unreasonable to tamper with next year’s quota now."