Park Dan, No Change in Conditions for Ruling and Opposition Parties' Parliamentary Council Participation
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, reportedly persuaded Park Dan, Emergency Committee Chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association, to participate in the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body on the 26th.
On the same day, Lee held a private meeting with Chair Park at an undisclosed location in Seoul and requested cooperation to resolve the medical service gap triggered by the increase in medical school quotas.
Cho Seung-rae, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, stated in a written briefing that Lee and Chair Park met for about an hour and a half, and Chair Park clearly maintained the position that the condition for participation is the complete cancellation of the 2025 medical school quota increase.
Lee also expressed agreement that all possibilities regarding the 2025 medical school quota should be kept open for discussion. He further mentioned the need for a progressive change in the government's attitude as public inconvenience due to the medical service gap continues. Chief Spokesperson Cho explained, "Both parties agreed to continue communication to find solutions to the medical crisis."
In addition to Lee, Park Joo-min, chair of the Democratic Party's Medical Crisis Countermeasure Special Committee, and Kang Cheong-hee, chair of the Health and Medical Special Committee, also attended the meeting.
Although the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools recently announced their intention to participate in the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body, there has been no further movement for additional participation from the medical community.
Therefore, Lee's meeting with Emergency Committee Chair Park is interpreted as a willingness to take a leading role in the launch of the consultative body.
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