Possibility of Priority Launch for Ye·Ui·Jeong Consultative Body... Prime Minister Han, Jo Gyu-hong, and Lee Man-hee to Participate

Possibility of 'Yeo·Ui·Jeong' System Without Opposition and Resident Doctor Groups
Expected to Open Doors on the 11th

The outlines of government and ruling party representatives who will participate in the 'Ruling Party-Opposition Party-Medical Community-Government Consultative Body' aimed at resolving the medical-policy conflict arising during the healthcare reform process have partially emerged.

According to government officials, President Yoon Suk-yeol has instructed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office at the Presidential Office, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, and Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, to represent the government in the consultative body. This is interpreted as a plan to involve the highest-ranking government officials leading healthcare reform policies to support swift decision-making.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 4th, President Yoon instructed the Cabinet and presidential aides to "successfully complete the ongoing reform policies within this year so that the public can feel the results."

From the ruling party, People Power Party, three representatives have been nominated: three-term lawmakers Lee Man-hee and Kim Seong-won, and first-term lawmaker Han Ji-a, who is a medical doctor. If the consultative body's size expands or its scope of activities broadens, additional members may be added.

The opposition party, the Democratic Party, has been reluctant to participate in the consultative body, citing the non-participation of the resident doctors' association. Accordingly, it is highly likely that a 'Ruling Party-Medical Community-Government Consultative Body' involving the government, ruling party, and some medical organizations will be launched first.

On the 4th, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, stated, "We intend to launch the Ruling Party-Opposition Party-Medical Community-Government Consultative Body on November 11. If the Democratic Party continues to emphasize preconditions and maintains its stance of non-participation, we plan to start with just the ruling party, medical community, and government first."

Within the medical community, the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and the Korea Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools (KAMC) are expected to participate in the consultative body as previously announced, but the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) continue to maintain their stance of non-participation.