Jeon Jinsook, Policy Debate on the Establishment of Public Hospitals

At the National Assembly on the 5th...
Discussion on Problems and Improvement Measures of the Preliminary Feasibility Study
"We Will Create High-Quality Public, Essential, and Regional Healthcare Policies"

Public Healthcare Implementation Plan Discussion Poster. Provided by Office of Jin Jinsuk

Jeon Jin-sook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Gwangju Buk-gu-eul), announced on the 2nd that she will hold a policy forum titled "Korea's Healthcare Issues Revealed by the Medical Crisis and Implementation Plans for Public Healthcare: How Can We Solve the Issue of Establishing Public Hospitals?" at 10 a.m. on the 5th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building.

This forum is co-hosted by Democratic Party members Jung Sung-ho, Baek Hye-ryun, So Byung-hoon, Lee Su-jin, Chun Joon-ho, Choi Min-hee, Kim Woo-young, Kim Yoon, Kim Tae-sun, Park Hee-seung, Kim Sun-min, acting representative of the Rebuilding Korea Innovation Party, and the Movement for Good Public Hospitals, among others.

Amid a medical crisis lasting over a year, issues surrounding public, essential, and regional healthcare have become increasingly severe. This policy forum has been organized to identify the problems in Korea's healthcare system exposed by the prolonged medical gap and to seek normalization measures for public healthcare as a solution. In particular, the forum will focus on discussing the chronic issues and improvement measures of the preliminary feasibility study system, which has been a major obstacle to establishing public hospitals.

The keynote presentation will be delivered by Kwon Soon-seok, professor at Chonnam National University College of Medicine, on "Problems and Improvement Measures of the Public Hospital Preliminary Feasibility Study System." In the following comprehensive discussion, Cho Seung-yeon, former director of Incheon Medical Center, will serve as moderator and, together with experts, discuss directions for improving the public hospital feasibility study system. Panelists include Ok Min-soo, professor at Ulsan University College of Medicine; Jeon Jin-han, policy director of the Health and Medical Workers' Union for the Realization of Health Rights; Lee Eun-hye, head of the Uijeongbu Medical Center branch of the Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters of the Health and Medical Workers' Union; Kim Wan-soo, director of the Feasibility Review Division at the Ministry of Economy and Finance; and Kim Ji-yeon, director of the Public Healthcare Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Jeon stated, "As Korea enters a super-aged society, it is urgent to establish public hospitals that can actively provide rehabilitation, hospice, home care, and treatment for geriatric diseases." She pointed out, "However, the establishment of new regional public medical centers is being pushed aside due to the financial authorities' focus on profitability."

Jeon further emphasized, "In fact, in 2023, local medical center projects in Ulsan and Gwangju failed the preliminary feasibility study, and last year, the second medical center projects in Seoul and Incheon also faced difficulties." She added, "Based on the discussions at this forum, I will work together with the co-hosting lawmakers to create public, essential, and regional healthcare policies that ensure all Korean citizens receive high-quality medical services regardless of where they live."