Han Deok-su: "Medical crisis, first responsibility lies with residents... No strike causing severe patients to leave"

Regular National Assembly Plenary Session Government Questioning
Prime Minister Han: "Do Not Try to Hide the Truth"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo recently stated on the 12th that "(residents) bear the primary responsibility" regarding the recent medical service gap crisis.

On the afternoon of the same day, during the regular National Assembly plenary session's government questioning held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Prime Minister Han responded this way to a question from Baek Hye-ryun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who asked, "Do you think residents bear the greatest responsibility?" He added, "There is no medical strike abandoning critically ill patients anywhere in the world. We should not try to hide the facts."

In response, Representative Baek pointed out to Prime Minister Han, "The people who need to be persuaded more than anyone for the ruling-opposition-medical-government consultative body are the residents. If you say that residents bear the greatest responsibility, how can they come back?"

Prime Minister Han replied, "I do not think so. Is it meticulous to cover up the causes that need to be revealed? The causes must be clarified," maintaining his stance on the medical crisis.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 12th, where questions on education, social, and cultural issues were being raised, and responded to questions from Nam In-soon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Prime Minister Han also countered when Representative Baek pointed out the decline in President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating due to the medical consultative conflict, saying, "If you want to raise the approval rating, do not increase medical school admissions and do not pursue medical reform."

Earlier, at a comprehensive emergency medical situation briefing held at the Government Seoul Office, Prime Minister Han emphasized regarding the recent medical service gap crisis such as the 'emergency room rotation,' "It is by no means a situation where we should worry about a 'medical collapse' as some are concerned."

He said, "Our medical system, which the government has carefully reviewed and inspected, still firmly serves as a shield protecting the lives and health of the people," adding, "All reforms are difficult, but medical reform is especially painful."