KMA Launches Presidential Election Planning Headquarters... Large-Scale Rally Discussed on the 20th

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) launched its Presidential Election Planning Headquarters on the 13th to respond to the early presidential election situation. On the same day, the headquarters reportedly discussed a large-scale rally scheduled for the 20th.

On the 20th, the Korea Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The Korea Medical Association announced that instead of launching the "Pan-Medical Community Countermeasures Committee (Pan Committee)" as previously planned, it will launch the "Special Committee for Proper Medical Care (Special Committee)." Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The KMA held the inauguration ceremony for the Presidential Election Planning Headquarters at the KMA building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon. Min Bok-gi, president of the Daegu Medical Association, and Jeong Gyeong-ho, president of the Jeollabuk-do Medical Association, were appointed as the heads of the headquarters.

Head Min stated, "Various issues related to medical-government conflicts must be resolved within this month under the acting presidency of President Han Deok-soo," adding, "In particular, medical students, residents, and the government need to find common ground quickly to promptly resolve next year's medical school admission quota issue."

Regarding the medical school admission quota for the year after next, he said, "We (the medical community) will set the range of numbers that can be educated, and then it can be discussed in the National Assembly."

Earlier, the KMA had requested the government and political circles to create a forum for discussion immediately after the dismissal of former President Yoon and officially requested dialogue. The KMA also demanded that the government finalize next year's medical school admission quota at 3,058, the number promised before the medical-government conflict, and called for the suspension of the Presidential Medical Reform Special Committee (Uigae Teukwi).

On the same day, along with the launch of the Presidential Election Planning Headquarters, the KMA held a National Medical Representatives Meeting and issued a resolution demanding the dissolution of the Uigae Teukwi and adjustment of the medical school admission quota.

In a closed meeting, discussions reportedly took place regarding the nationwide doctors' rally scheduled for the 20th and the direction of subsequent struggles.

Kim Seong-geun, spokesperson for the KMA, said, "There were opinions that actions such as temporary closures and strikes should be taken to urge the government to change its stance quickly, but it was a meeting to listen to various opinions, and no resolutions were made."