Medical Association Accelerates Election of Emergency Committee Chair... Residents Say, "Consultation Without Stakeholders Is Meaningless"

"Expecting a New President to Engage in Dialogue with the Government Alongside Sajik Residents"

The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which impeached former chairman Im Hyun-taek, is immediately moving to form an emergency response committee, while resigned residents and medical students are hoping for a new KMA leadership that can understand and communicate with them. They also dismissed the ruling and opposition parties' first step in the 'Ruling Party?Medical Association?Government' consultative body as "meaningless" without the participation of residents.

Park Dan, Emergency Response Committee Chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the medical community on the 12th, the KMA, which passed a vote of no confidence against former chairman Im at the extraordinary delegates' meeting on the 10th, will elect the chairman of the emergency response committee to fill the leadership vacuum on the 13th. According to KMA regulations, if a vote of no confidence is passed, the chairman is immediately suspended from duty, and a by-election must be held within 60 days. The KMA delegates plan to complete the election of the next chairman within 30 days, sooner than this, to stabilize the current situation.

Residents are quietly placing their hopes on the soon-to-be-formed KMA emergency response committee or the next chairman. Since the existing Im Hyun-taek administration has been in conflict with the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) since its inception, the medical community's consensus is to unite with the resigned residents going forward. At the extraordinary meeting on the 10th, delegates repeatedly emphasized the importance of the resigned residents' opinions.

Kim Gyo-ung, chairman of the KMA delegates, said, "Once the emergency response committee and the new administration are formed, residents are expected to actively participate and express their opinions," adding, "We will discuss with them and decide on whether to participate in the consultative body, and cooperation from KIRA is also necessary."

The leading candidates for the next KMA chairman?former KMA chairman Joo Su-ho, Kim Taek-woo, chairman of the National Council of City and Provincial Medical Associations, and Lee Dong-wook, chairman of the Gyeonggi-do Medical Association?are all known for having built good relationships with the resigned residents. A resident who resigned from a training hospital in the region, Mr. A, said, "All the candidates mentioned as chairman have the legitimacy of representing residents, so whoever is elected, I think communication will improve compared to before."

Another resident, Mr. B, said, "Changing the chairman doesn't guarantee everything will go well. Ultimately, what matters is who is elected as the emergency committee chairman and the chairman," but added, "I hope for a new chairman who can align with residents, engage in dialogue with the government, and create variables."

Earlier, on the 7th, KIRA also posted a statement on social media expressing hope that "with a new chairman capable of understanding and communication at the forefront, the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Intern Resident Association can build mutual solidarity in the future," along with a statement from representatives of residents from 90 hospitals.

Medical students are also looking forward to dialogue with the new leadership. Mr. C, a medical student in the metropolitan area, said, "In the current situation, it is necessary for the KMA chairman to focus on supporting resigned residents and medical students rather than taking the front stage," adding, "I hope the KMA will fully support resigned residents and medical students so they can engage in dialogue with the government and realize their demands."

However, some argue that even if a new KMA chairman is elected, resolving the issues will be difficult. A medical community official said, "The conflict between the KMA and KIRA can be seen as a dispute between former chairman Im, who considered the deadline to be December and tried to reach some agreement, and the young doctors who opposed it," adding, "If the new administration aims for a fundamental resolution rather than a compromise with some concessions, the medical crisis could continue until next year."

Meanwhile, although the 'Ruling Party?Medical Association?Government' consultative body, which excludes the opposition party, officially launched on the 11th, the response from resident organizations has been negative. Park Dan, representative of KIRA, criticized the consultative body as meaningless, saying, "Han Dong-hoon, the People Power Party leader, is foolishly saying he will have talks without the participation of residents and medical students." Nationwide medical students who have collectively taken a leave of absence plan to hold their first student representative meeting on the 15th, the day after the College Scholastic Ability Test, to discuss future protest directions.