Minister Cho Kyu-hong: "Will Discuss Well in the Ruling and Opposition Parliamentary Consultative Body"
At the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit, a dispute arose over the issue of increasing medical school quotas and pension reform. The opposition party pressured Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong to take responsibility for the medical crisis and resign.
Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong is responding to lawmakers' questions during the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee's audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety held on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
On the 23rd, Jeon Jin-sook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked at the Health and Welfare Committee audit held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "I previously mentioned that President Yoon Seok-yeol's official apology and the resignation of the responsible minister and vice minister were necessary to resolve the current medical crisis. Have you considered this?" Minister Cho replied, "It is difficult for me to decide."
Regarding Minister Cho's response, Rep. Jeon said, "Not a single citizen would believe that the 2,000 increase in medical school quotas was the minister's decision alone." She added, "Experts are concerned that confusion in the medical field will worsen this fall and winter. There is really no time left." Furthermore, she stated, "I hope President Yoon will make a candid apology to open the way for restoring trust between the medical profession and the government," and said, "I hope (Minister Cho) will resign voluntarily."
Nam In-soon, also a Democratic Party member, pointed out, "It has been eight months since the health and medical disaster crisis alert was raised to the serious level, but the emergency medical system is still in operation." She added, "Important resident doctor organizations and the Korean Medical Association have not returned to the ruling-opposition medical council, so those responsible should show accountability." Minister Cho responded, "Since it is most necessary for resident doctors to return quickly and medical students to resume classes, we will steadily pursue medical reform tasks while engaging in dialogue," and said, "We will make efforts for their early return."
Criticism of the government's pension reform plan also continued. In September, the government announced a pension reform plan to gradually raise the existing 9% insurance premium rate to 13%, and increase the nominal income replacement rate from 40% to 42%. The reform plan included an 'automatic adjustment mechanism' that adjusts pension amounts in line with demographic changes and economic conditions, as well as differentiated premium rate increases by generation. The 21st National Assembly had prepared a base reform plan through public discussion, setting the premium rate at 13% and the nominal income replacement rate at 44%, but the government and ruling party rejected it, stating that structural reform must also accompany it.
Rep. Jeon said, "It was possible to achieve a successful conclusion such as base reform in the 21st National Assembly," and added, "Looking at the current government proposal, the results of the public discussion have been completely ignored." She continued, "The government plan still focuses solely on fiscal stability, and the automatic adjustment mechanism and differentiated premium rate increases by generation only cause social controversy and conflict," emphasizing, "The automatic adjustment mechanism and differentiated premium rate increases by generation must be withdrawn."
On the other hand, the ruling party valued the fact that the government had presented a pension reform plan itself. Baek Jong-heon, a member of the People Power Party, said, "Every year, a national burden of 32.8 trillion won increases whenever pension reform is delayed," and added, "The Moon Jae-in administration also declared pension reform but only made superficial efforts." He further urged, "Pension reform is an urgent task that can no longer be delayed," and said, "Detailed discussions on the government's plan's shortcomings and specifics should be conducted in the National Assembly."
Minister Cho stated, "Both medical reform and pension reform are being promoted under the responsibility of the Minister of Health and Welfare," and said, "Some medical organizations have expressed willingness to participate in the ruling-opposition medical council, so we will discuss well in the council and strive for early resolution. Regarding pension reform, if the ruling and opposition parties discuss and reach an agreement, we will accept it as much as possible."
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