National Assembly and Medical Associations Hold First Meeting Since Yoon Impeachment... Discuss Solutions to 'Medical Crisis'

On the 19th, the National Assembly met with medical organizations for the first time since President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment to seek solutions to the prolonged medical crisis.

Park Joo-min, a member of the Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the 'National Assembly-Korean Medical Association·Korean Intern and Resident Association Meeting' held at the Korean Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon, "The medical crisis began with the unilateral and coercive policy implementation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," adding, "Many problems were pointed out as policies were rushed, but the government's sincerity to resolve them was virtually zero."

Park emphasized, "President Yoon was rather the biggest obstacle to solving the problem," and pointed out, "Just looking at the emergency martial law proclamation to punish interns and residents, we can clearly see how the president viewed the medical community." He added, "The situation has changed. I believe it is important to cooperate and engage in dialogue, especially during difficult times."

Kim Young-ho, a member of the Education Committee from the same party, expressed regret, saying, "After the government's unilateral announcement to increase medical school admissions, interns and residents have not returned to hospitals, and medical students have been unable to attend classes," and "The Yoon administration, consistent with its coercive and authoritarian attitude, failed to establish any proper communication channels with the medical community and wasted time helplessly."

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Park Hyung-wook, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Medical Association, claimed, "The public experienced a short period of emergency martial law, but the resigning interns and residents have endured medical martial law for an entire year," and "The proclamation included extreme abusive language threatening to punish the interns and residents." Park said, "The number of first-year intern and resident applicants for next year clearly reflects the failure of the Yoon administration's (medical) policies," lamenting, "Only one person applied for obstetrics and gynecology out of 188 openings, and only five applied for pediatrics out of 206 openings. The results are devastating."

He continued, "Education Minister Lee Ju-ho attended the National Assembly Education Committee and said, 'Communication is my conviction, and I consider September the golden time to persuade medical students to return and have interns and residents come back,' but the golden time in September passed long ago, and Minister Lee has neither communicated nor prepared any measures," sharply criticizing.

Park added, "It is sad and shocking to see a minister who has no interest in education at all," and stressed the need for political accountability, saying, "If left as is, the crisis in medical education and the medical disaster will worsen. It will become impossible to manage from next year."

Park Dan, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Intern and Resident Association, also stated, "This crisis is a tragedy caused by the government's policy failure," and argued, "Minister Lee Ju-ho, who claims to have a Plan B, and university presidents who said education is possible must take responsibility and come up with countermeasures."

Park said, "Students are saying they will not return to school next year. I also have no intention of returning under these circumstances," warning, "Many now understand that medical education next year is impossible. There will also be supply and demand issues." He urged, "The government's reckless actions must be stopped as soon as possible," emphasizing, "Since President Yoon's duties have been suspended, the policies he was pursuing must also be completely halted."

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