[Interview with Medical Association President Candidate] ① Joo Suho, Representative of Future Medical Forum, "Mandatory Designation System for Care Institutions Must Be Abolished"

Spokesperson during the 2000 Separation of Drug Dispensing... Served as the 35th President of the Korean Medical Association
"Establish Public Healthcare and Free Private Hospitals from National Health Insurance Control"
"I Will Make the KMA a Group Feared by the Government"

Editor's Note

The Korea Medical Association (KMA), which had fallen into internal strife amid the prolonged medical crisis, will elect its next president in a by-election scheduled for early January next year. After the impeachment of former president Im Hyun-taek, the chaotic situation has been managed under an emergency committee chairperson system, but the next KMA president will lead the full-scale medical-government negotiations to resolve the crisis. Asia Economy is conducting a series of interviews with candidates running in the by-election. The first is Joo Su-ho, representative of the Future Medical Forum.

Representative Joo Su-ho is a surgical specialist who graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine. During the 2000 medical separation crisis, he entered the KMA leadership as the spokesperson for the 'Medical Rights Acquisition Struggle Committee,' the KMA's government opposition organization. Later, in 2007, he was elected as the 35th president of the KMA and was credited with stabilizing the then-divided executive body in a short period. He also ran in the March election for the 42nd president but lost in the runoff against former president Im Hyun-taek.

Joo Suho, CEO of the Future Medical Forum, is discussing the background of his candidacy for the Korean Medical Association president by-election and his views on the escalating conflict between the medical community and the government at a cafe in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 22nd. Photo by Choi Taewon

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Asia Economy held an exclusive interview with Representative Joo at a cafe in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to hear his plans for the next KMA administration and his stance on the escalating medical-government conflict.

- What made you decide to run in the KMA presidential by-election?

▲ It is the same reason as when I decided to run in the March presidential election. I felt the need to organize the current chaotic situation on a broad scale. The reason doctors have been forced to show a fragmented stance is that the medical community has failed to set a major goal to pursue. Due to this limitation, it was difficult to raise a unified voice across different medical professions. Therefore, I want to set a big goal to fundamentally reform the flawed medical system. Only then can we properly resolve the current crisis of increasing medical school quotas.

- What exactly do you mean by reforming the system?

▲ Broadly speaking, it means guaranteeing the public's right to choose and doctors' autonomy. Currently, doctors in South Korea cannot treat patients based solely on medical judgments found in textbooks. They are institutionally forced to provide care according to the review standards of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. As a result, doctors cannot provide the best care to patients and are forced into so-called '3-minute consultations.' This system is detrimental to both patients and doctors. Fundamentally, the 'Mandatory Designation System for Medical Institutions' must be abolished. The current system is simply unsustainable.

- That sounds similar to medical privatization.

▲ There is a common misconception that medical privatization is bad. People have been swayed by foreign films depicting patients unable to visit hospitals due to lack of money. Of course, the mandatory designation system cannot be abolished overnight. We need to establish a consensus and proceed accordingly. The prerequisite for moving away from the national health insurance system is the establishment of proper public healthcare. Only after a robust public healthcare system is in place for those truly unable to afford hospital visits does private medical insurance become meaningful. This does not mean telling people without money not to go to hospitals. However, a system must also be built to prevent moral hazard among public healthcare users.

- What is your short-term plan regarding the medical-government conflict?

▲ The important thing is not to break principles. The frontline victims of the current crisis, and those who will lead our medical community for a long time, are residents and medical students. Their opinions will be central in setting goals. It is also crucial to prevent further division within the medical community. If elected president, I will first instruct the government and political circles not to send official documents to subordinate organizations without going through the KMA. Within the big goals and framework we set, we will resolve each detailed issue within principles one by one. Without unity, doctors cannot fully realize their potential power. This is a necessary prerequisite to overcome the difficult situation.

- Cooperation with resident doctors who have resigned is most demanded of the next executive team. What is your plan?

▲ Since serving as spokesperson for the Medical Rights Acquisition Struggle Committee during the 2000 medical separation crisis, I have communicated well with residents. Those who were residents then are now in their 40s and 50s, working in city and provincial medical associations, and still support me. While I cannot fully understand current residents, these experiences reflect my value of centering young doctors' thoughts. My actions over the past 20 years convey more than just verbal communication. Whether through consultative bodies or struggle organizations, I plan to make residents' and medical students' opinions central in decision-making.

- What kind of exchanges have you had with residents so far?

▲ Since becoming the media publicity chairperson of the KMA emergency committee in February this year, I have gotten to know them better. Even now, young doctors greet me first when we meet on the street. I have personally met with resident doctors who resigned and had many conversations. I was invited to a resident event in Busan and saw how much they appreciated it. I also hosted a resident event in Seoul in October.

I have always been interested in young doctors. During my presidency, I brought the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) office, which was outside, into the KMA building to communicate better with young doctors. I also want to revive the plan to grant associate membership status to medical students, which I failed to do during my presidency. At that time, the Ministry of Health and Welfare rejected the proposed amendment to the KMA bylaws.

- Do you see a deadline for resolving the medical crisis?

▲ Honestly, no one knows. We did not expect it to become like this at the start, and as the crisis prolongs, distorted medical practices are increasingly exposed. There is growing consensus that things cannot continue as they are. Rather than focusing on a deadline, I believe doctors should not get tired or give up and should uphold the original principles. It is difficult to end this within a month or two. This is why we need an executive team with a firm philosophy that considers both struggle and mid-to-long-term measures.

- The college entrance exam has already ended. What is your view on the possibility of adjusting next year's medical school quota?

▲ The government created this situation. The medical community has consistently warned that such problems would arise. Now the government says it is practically impossible to adjust the quota. This is because they lack principles. The government missed the timing. We only maintain consistent principles. Some say this is irresponsible, but the medical community has been the one speaking responsibly.

What I can say for sure is that if the quota increase is forced, about 7,500 medical students will have to leave school next year. Students who entered without knowing anything will realize that the actual educational conditions are impossible. They will realize they were deceived. The argument to stop admissions now arises because the government missed the timing when this year's first-year medical students return to become second-year students.

- What are your strengths and weaknesses as the next KMA president?

▲ My leadership to unite and lead the medical community is a strength. Also, my consistent philosophy and extensive experience in the medical community. The current executive team is formed through a by-election and has no time to organize an executive body. Therefore, it is important to have a talent pool ready to immediately handle association affairs from the moment of election. Many who were residents in 2000 still support me. If elected, I have a publicly recognized talent pool with the experience and ability to quit their jobs and work full-time at the KMA immediately.

My weakness is the legal risk. I am deeply repentant about a drunk driving incident. Since that day, I have reflected and have not re-obtained a driver's license. The wrongdoing will not disappear, but the bereaved family wrote a petition on my behalf. If the situation were peaceful, I would not run. But now, someone is needed to organize this chaotic situation.

- Any final words?

▲ If I become president, I will work so that after my term, I am recognized as 'a president who truly served doctors and Korean healthcare.' I will make the KMA a formidable organization feared by the government and not to be underestimated by political circles.