"Controversy Over Martial Law Proclamation: 'Disciplinary Action if Residents Fail to Return to Duty Within 48 Hours'"
President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law on the night of the 3rd has sparked intense controversy over the procedures such as the Cabinet meeting resolution, and it has been confirmed that Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong also attended the Cabinet meeting before the martial law declaration.
Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong is attending the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
On the 4th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced to the press corps, "The Minister of Health and Welfare attended the preliminary (Cabinet) meeting on December 3rd," and "did not attend the subsequent (Cabinet) meeting on the 4th."
Earlier, it was reported that President Yoon presided over the Cabinet meeting before the martial law declaration at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the previous day, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and others in attendance. Although some attendees reportedly expressed opposition to the martial law declaration, since it was ultimately approved, there are criticisms that these Cabinet members cannot easily evade responsibility.
In particular, the proclamation issued immediately after the martial law declaration included the statement, "All medical personnel, including resident doctors who are on strike or have left medical sites, must return to their duties within 48 hours and work diligently; violations will be punished under the Martial Law Act," which has provoked outrage among resident doctors and the medical community. Therefore, there is expected to be controversy over whether Minister Cho, who attended the preliminary meeting, was aware of this wording in the proclamation in advance and whether there was an actual plan to enforce the proclamation guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held an emergency executive meeting on the morning of the same day to discuss the response to the martial law declaration and lifting situation. Subsequently, the ministry issued a statement saying, "We will do our best to protect vulnerable groups and maintain essential medical services," and urged employees, "Since the situation has normalized, please do not be unsettled and fulfill your responsibilities and duties as prescribed by law."
Minister Cho reportedly attended only the emergency ministers' meeting held at 10 a.m. and canceled all other schedules. First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Ki-il was also scheduled to attend a business agreement ceremony for the Youth Independence Scholarship Support Project held at the Child Rights Protection Agency at 10 a.m. that day but did not attend.
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