Gwangju and Jeonnam Medical Professionals Issue Statement Calling for Yoon's Dismissal

"Collapse of Public Healthcare...
Neglecting the Lives of the People"

Healthcare professionals in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions have called for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, citing the collapse of the public healthcare system and the push for the privatization of healthcare.

On the 15th, participants shouted slogans at the "15th Nationwide Citizen March for Yoon Seokyeol's Immediate Resignation and Social Reform" held at the East Ten-Story Pavilion of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Healthcare professionals, including members of the Gwangju and Jeonnam Healthcare Workers' Union, nurses, doctors, and pharmacists, issued a statement on the 17th, declaring, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration's governance is neglecting the public's right to health and undermining the basic right to healthcare guaranteed by the Constitution."

They stated, "The government is pursuing healthcare privatization without making even the minimal efforts to strengthen public healthcare," and pointed out, "Essential medical services such as emergency care, trauma centers, and childbirth are collapsing." They further criticized, "With reduced support for national university hospitals and neglect of public hospitals, the gap in medical services is widening," adding, "This is an anti-human rights policy that leaves the public exposed to exorbitant medical bills and a lack of medical care."

Regarding the policy to increase medical school admissions, they argued, "This is a hasty administrative measure that only increases numbers without consultation with the medical community, causing outrage among healthcare professionals," and claimed, "The government's coercive policy implementation is leading to the collapse of the healthcare system."

They also cited the collapse of the quarantine system and inadequate response to infectious diseases after COVID-19, stating, "The roles of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and public health centers have been reduced, and the budget for responding to infectious diseases has been cut," and added, "The public is being left exposed to the threats of disease and death." They continued, "President Yoon Suk-yeol is abandoning his constitutional duty to protect the lives of the people," and pointed out, "The privatization of judicial and prosecutorial power and disregard for democratic procedures are threatening democracy." They added, "Due to incompetence in the economy, people's livelihoods, diplomacy, and security, the lives of the people are deteriorating," and emphasized, "We can no longer stand by and watch this tyranny."

Meanwhile, they appealed, "President Yoon must be immediately removed from office," and called on all healthcare professionals and the public to unite in this cause."