Minister Cho Kyu-hong, "Will Persuade the Ruling and Opposition Parliamentary Consultative Group to Include Residents"

The Korean Medical Association and KAMC Represent the Medical Community
Ministry of Health and Welfare States, "Communicating Individually with Residents"

Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyu-hong stated, "If results are achieved through the ruling and opposition parliamentary consultative body, the timing of residents' participation in the consultative body could be brought forward," expressing his commitment to persuading residents to participate.

· Yonhap News

On the 7th, at the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee plenary session, Minister Cho responded to the question from Kim Ye-ji, a member of the People Power Party, asking whether communication with the medical community to resolve the medical vacuum is premature, by saying, "It should be done quickly."

Regarding the medical organizations that have expressed willingness to participate in the ruling and opposition parliamentary consultative body, the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools (KAMC), he said, "They are representatives of the medical academies and the representative organizations of medical schools educating students," adding, "They can sufficiently represent the medical community." On the other hand, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and the Korean Intern and Resident Association still maintain their stance of not participating in the consultative body.

Rep. Kim also said, "Ultimately, residents and resigning residents cannot join the ruling and opposition parliamentary consultative body from the beginning, but they are with us, and the ruling party will strive to reflect their opinions."

Minister Cho also acknowledged that the KMA is currently facing internal difficulties ahead of the impeachment vote for its president scheduled for the 10th.

When asked whether the Ministry of Health and Welfare is communicating with the resigning residents, he replied, "We are communicating individually," and added, "We will make efforts to ensure that the opinions of residents are reflected in the consultative body."