The National Council of Medical School Professors (Jeonui Gyohyeop), a gathering of medical school professors, announced on the 7th regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's emergency martial law situation that they "firmly refuse to participate in or advise on any government policies carried out under the orders of those involved in the insurrection."
On the morning of the 2nd, a medical official was moving near the emergency medical center of a large hospital in downtown Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
On the same day, Jeonui Gyohyeop issued a statement saying, "We will fight alongside the people for the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."
They expressed, "We cannot hide our devastation at the atrocities of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which has completely undermined the foundation of liberal democracy," adding, "The perception of residents and doctors not as members of society but as traitors and targets for punishment clearly reveals the true nature of this administration."
On the night of the 3rd, immediately after President Yoon declared martial law, the martial law command issued a proclamation stating that "all medical personnel, including residents 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."
Jeonui Gyohyeop also criticized, "Despite inflicting irreparable wounds on the people, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration refuses to take any responsibility and is no longer a government recognized by the people of the Republic of Korea."
Jeonui Gyohyeop held the government accountable for the medical school enrollment increase issue as well.
They stated, "We clearly declare that the responsibility for the medical disruption and collapse triggered by the enrollment increase in 2025 lies with Yoon Seok-yeol, his aides, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and their collaborators."
Furthermore, they said, "University presidents, medical school deans, and officials must remember that performing tasks related to the enrollment increase obstructs the return of residents and students," adding, "The enrollment quota increased by Yoon Seok-yeol’s arbitrary decision without any consideration of educational realities must be withdrawn."
They concluded, "We will definitely hold them legally accountable in the future."
Meanwhile, the Emergency Response Committee of Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital professors also declared in a statement, "Medical personnel were designated as targets for punishment in this proclamation," adding, "A wrong order is like a wrong prescription. How can medical personnel in the field obediently follow a wrong prescription?"
They continued, "Just as the wrongful emergency martial law was lifted by the National Assembly, the flawed medical reform must also stop now to prevent further harm," and "The issue must be properly understood through social consensus and proceed in the right direction."
They also stated, "The entire nation will closely watch who supports impeachment," and "We will continuously raise our voices until both the people and medical personnel are safe."
The National Assembly is conducting a plenary session from 5 p.m. today to re-vote on the 'Special Prosecutor Act for Mrs. Kim Geon-hee' and vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol.
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