Handonghun "Regret Remarks Hurting Doctors... Judicial Response Should Also Be Careful"

High-Level Party-Government Meeting on Medical Reform Held
Han: "We Must Set Aside Political Thoughts and Start the Consultative Body"

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 12th regarding disparaging remarks about doctors, "There were some somewhat hurtful remarks made by certain individuals, and as the leader of the ruling party, I regret that such incidents occurred." He also urged the government to be cautious in its judicial response to resident doctors.

At a high-level party-government meeting on medical reform held at the National Assembly that afternoon, Han said, "Such remarks do not help solve the problem and only worsen the situation." He added, "The medical community has played an important role in protecting the health and lives of the people throughout a long history and deserves respect."

The individuals Han referred to are interpreted to be targeting Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare. At a parliamentary hearing, Vice Minister Park caused controversy by pronouncing a disparaging term for doctors as 'Uisae.'

Additionally, on the 4th, Vice Minister Park appeared on MBC Radio and said, "The fact that one can call and check their condition means it can be understood as mild," and "Severe cases are mostly unconscious or paralyzed to the extent that they cannot do anything by themselves. Having a high fever, sudden abdominal pain, or severe bleeding from a tear also falls under mild cases," which further fueled controversy.

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, and Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister, are taking a commemorative photo at the party-government meeting held on the 12th at the National Assembly to improve regional and essential medical systems. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In response, Han emphasized, "The government has never thought that way. The government is not the enemy of doctors." He also requested the government to be cautious regarding judicial actions related to the departure of resident doctors.

Regarding the controversy over the so-called 'doctor blacklist,' which involves spreading personal information and mocking doctors attempting to return to hospitals, he pointed out, "We must also prevent anything that hinders the start of dialogue."

He reiterated the position to launch the ruling-opposition-medical-government consultative body before Chuseok. Han stated, "It is difficult for the medical community to form a united front, and demanding that is unreasonable. We should start together with the participating medical groups, and additional medical organizations can join later as needed."

He also requested the Democratic Party, which will form the consultative body together with the ruling party, opposition, and medical representatives, "Please start together without imposing conditions such as the participation of specific medical organizations." The Democratic Party holds the position that it is difficult to start the consultative body unless parties involved in or representative of this medical crisis, such as the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Intern Resident Association, participate.

He emphasized, "I want to ask whether the Democratic Party truly intends to operate the consultative body," and urged, "Let's all put aside political thoughts and promptly launch the consultative body."