[Yoon Impeachment] Medical Community: "Impeachment of Yoon Should Lead to Suspension of Medical Policies"

KMA: "Hope for Rational Reconsideration of Medical School Admissions Increase and Essential Medical Policy Package"
KIRA: "Government Must Immediately Halt Medical Policies and Restore Trust with the Medical Community"

The medical community has raised its voice, calling for the suspension of the current administration's medical policies in light of the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol.

A flyer opposing the increase in medical school admissions is posted at the Korean Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News

On April 4, immediately after the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) issued a statement saying, "This ruling confirms that democracy is alive in the Republic of Korea," and added, "With the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, we hope this will lead to a halt of misguided medical policies promoted by the Special Committee on Medical Reform and others, and allow for a rational reconsideration of the increase in medical school admissions and the essential medical policy package."

The KMA further emphasized, "Last February, the Yoon administration abruptly announced an increase of 2,000 in medical school admissions without agreement from the medical community and pushed ahead with the policy, intensively targeting the medical community through an order to return to work."

They added, "Ultimately, the government went so far as to declare an illegal state of emergency and issue a proclamation threatening to punish resident doctors, yet relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare still have not shown a responsible attitude."

The statement also argued, "The reckless actions of a leader who disregards the lives of the people and threatens the security of the nation must be stopped," and insisted, "Public officials who aided in the enforcement of misguided policies must also be held accountable."

The KMA expressed hope that suspending the medical policies promoted by the Special Committee on Medical Reform and others would serve as an opportunity for medical students and residents to return to their educational and clinical settings. To this end, they urged, "The current administration must prioritize resolving the medical crisis during its remaining term, and this process must involve discussions with professional organizations."

They also pointed out, "In order for doctors to fulfill their mission of saving lives, there must be universally applicable laws, stable systems, and a secure medical environment."

The Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) also issued a statement, saying, "We sincerely welcome the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol," and added, "Now is the time for recovery. The government must immediately halt all medical policies and work to restore trust with the medical community in a more flexible and responsible manner."

Park Dan, KMA Vice President and head of the KIRA emergency committee, also recalled on his personal social media the contents of the martial law order-"All medical professionals who have left the clinical field must return to their primary duties and work faithfully within 48 hours, and violators will be punished under martial law"-and stated, "The fear of punishment will never be forgotten. At last, he has faced the judgment of the people."