Kim Dong-yeon: "Let's Not Get Sick During Chuseok, Reality of Well-Wishing Is Dire... Government Must Take Responsibility"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is visiting the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters 119 Integrated Situation Room on the 15th and talking with Cho Sun-ho, Head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited the emergency center at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital in Anyang and the 119 Comprehensive Situation Room at the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters in Suwon on the second day of the Chuseok holiday, September 15, to inspect the emergency medical response during the holiday period.

Governor Kim first visited the emergency center at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital in Anyang in the afternoon, where he inspected the site and expressed his gratitude, saying, "I would like to thank the medical staff who are working with all their might under difficult circumstances," and urged, "The number of patients is expected to increase compared to usual during the holiday, so please do your best."

Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital ranks second in Gyeonggi Province for the proportion of severe emergency patients treated, following Ajou University Hospital (32.5%). Additionally, in June, it was selected by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for the ‘Severe Patient Dedicated Ambulance Pilot Project’ and plans to introduce a dedicated ambulance equipped with medical devices suitable for transporting critically ill patients.

After the site visit, Governor Kim met with reporters and held the government responsible for the medical crisis, urging fundamental measures.

Governor Kim stated, "It is truly regrettable and distressing that during the Chuseok holiday, people exchange well-wishes to avoid illness, yet this situation arises," and emphasized, "I lament this reality caused by the government's failure to fulfill its role properly and once again issue a warning and call for structural solutions."

He added, "I believe the government bears the greatest responsibility for collapsing the world-renowned medical system in an instant," and said, "The government should take the initiative with a sense of responsibility, engage in sincere dialogue with the medical community, and lead efforts to resolve the problem quickly."

Previously, Governor Kim decided to support Ajou University Hospital with 1 billion KRW and held an emergency inspection meeting of medical sites on the 12th, deciding to provide 4 billion KRW to eight regional emergency centers in the province. In total, 5 billion KRW in emergency support was allocated to nine regional emergency centers in the province (Ajou University Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, Bundang CHA Hospital, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Myongji Hospital, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, and National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital) to resolve the medical crisis.

Governor Kim then visited the 119 Comprehensive Situation Room at the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters in Suwon to encourage officials and check the status of emergency rescue calls during the holiday period.

Governor Kim said, "Yesterday, there were about 1,400 reported calls, and today about 900 calls have been received so far," adding, "It is said that the number of calls increases during the holidays compared to usual, and residents rely heavily on firefighters. Thank you for your hard work, stay strong, and have a good Chuseok."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province has designated the two weeks before and after Chuseok (September 11?25) as the ‘Chuseok Holiday Emergency Response Week’ and is operating a stable emergency medical and emergency treatment system.

During the Chuseok holiday from the 13th to the 18th, six hospitals under the Gyeonggi Medical Center (Suwon, Uijeongbu, Paju, Icheon, Anseong, Pocheon) will operate fever clinics alongside their emergency rooms. From the 16th to the 18th, outpatient clinics will also be held on a rotating basis at each hospital.

During the three-day holiday period (16?18), the number of on-duty hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the province will increase by 20.6% to 4,629 locations compared to last Lunar New Year (3,838 locations). Information on medical institutions open during the holiday can be obtained from the Gyeonggi Province website (gg.go.kr), the Emergency Medical Portal (www.e-gen.or.kr), and the Gyeonggi Call Center (031-120). In cases of patient harm such as refusal of severe or emergency treatment, assistance is available through the Health and Welfare Counseling Center (dial 129 without area code).