Presidential Office "Shocked by Medical Student's Unfilial Remarks... Hopes No Harm to the People"

"Ruling and Opposition Parties' Legislative Council Depends on Medical Community's Response"

The government has decided to operate the "Chuseok Holiday Emergency Response Week" for two weeks starting from the 11th in preparation for a surge in emergency patients during the Chuseok holiday. On the morning of the 11th, a patient is being transported by ambulance in front of the Regional Emergency Medical Center at Korea University Anam Hospital in Seoul. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

The Presidential Office stated on the 12th that it is "shocked beyond belief by the outrageous and offensive remarks" made by medical students.

Earlier, it was revealed that some medical students in doctor and medical student communities made statements such as "(patients) wandering around the emergency room and dying does not evoke any emotion," prompting the government to request an investigation the previous day.

A Presidential Office official told reporters that day, "Doctors should be healers of the people's wounds, not those who aggravate them," but added, "Such doctors are likely a minority, and the majority of doctors are expected to value the lives of the people."

The official added, "We hope that the public will not be emotionally hurt by the remarks of some doctors."

Additionally, when asked whether there are differences between the ruling party and the government regarding the adjustment plan for increasing medical school admissions related to the ruling-opposition parliamentary consultation body, the Presidential Office official said, "I believe the ruling party and the government share the same intention to persuade the medical community as much as possible and cooperate together."

Regarding the difficulties in forming the ruling-opposition parliamentary consultation body, the official emphasized, "The ruling party and the government are putting their heads together and making efforts to persuade the medical community as much as possible," and added, "Whether the ruling-opposition parliamentary consultation body will be activated ultimately depends on whether the medical community responds positively."

He continued, "To activate the ruling-opposition parliamentary consultation body that engages in dialogue with the medical community, it reflects the intention that all agendas are open without preconditions and that we hope the medical community will come," and said, "I think this can be seen as a matter of interpretation."