Handonghun, Who Needs 'Results,' Goes All Out in Ruling and Opposition Party-Government-Assembly Council

Han Representative Continues Behind-the-Scenes Contact with Medical Community Figures
"100 Days is the Deadline... Must Achieve Results" Voices
Discussion on Launching Consultative Body for a Month... Will It Bear Fruit?

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, is making every effort to launch the ruling-opposition-government consultation body. It appears that he is trying to achieve a concrete outcome, such as the launch of the consultation body, amid a situation where there have been no notable achievements since his inauguration.

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, is arriving at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

According to political circles on the 2nd, Representative Han is reportedly continuing behind-the-scenes contacts to launch the ruling-opposition-government consultation body. On the 30th of last month, he canceled his schedule to attend a media company's anniversary ceremony at the last minute and met with key figures from medical organizations to persuade them to participate in the consultation body. A People Power Party leadership official said in a phone call that day, "A change in atmosphere is being sensed within the medical community as well."

The reason Representative Han is focusing on launching the ruling-opposition-government consultation body is that more than two months after his inauguration, he has not achieved any notable accomplishments. A first-term lawmaker said, "If no results are produced within 100 days, his position could become unstable."

Han’s side believes that negotiations for the launch of the ruling-opposition-government consultation body are in their final stages, and the atmosphere within the medical community and the presidential office has turned positive. On the 30th of last month, the government expressed regret and sympathy to the doctors' organizations, and the Korea Medical Association also stated that if it is difficult to withdraw the expansion of medical school quotas for 2025, they would like a promise to reduce quotas in 2026. Han Ji-a, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, revealed in a briefing that an anonymous medical community figure whom Representative Han met said they would consider participating in the ruling-opposition-government consultation body in a progressive manner.

However, the fact that the resident doctors' group and the Korea Medical Association are voicing different opinions could become an obstacle to the launch of the ruling-opposition-government consultation body. Park Dan, emergency committee chairperson of the Korean Intern Resident Association, wrote on social media on the 1st, "There is no change in our position regarding the 2025 medical school quota." He also sharply criticized, saying, "Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korea Medical Association, does not represent the positions of resigned resident doctors and medical students on leave."