Presidential Candidates' Science and Medical Policy Pledges to Be Reviewed

Science Journalists Association to Hold
"21st Presidential Election Candidates Science and Healthcare Policy Debate"

A forum will be held where journalists and experts from relevant fields will discuss the direction of science and medical policies for the next administration.

The Korea Science Journalists Association announced on May 26 that, in cooperation with the Citizens' Coalition for Rational Science and Technology Policy (CCRSTP), it will host the "21st Presidential Election Candidates Science and Healthcare Policy Debate" at 2:00 p.m. on May 28 at Conference Room 2 of the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, inviting key representatives from the election campaign committees of major political parties.

Poster for the "21st Presidential Election Candidates Science and Healthcare Policy Debate." Provided by the Korea Science Journalists Association.

This debate, taking place one week before the 21st presidential election, will be attended by science and healthcare representatives from the campaign committees of the Democratic Party of Korea, the People Power Party, and the Reform Party. They will explain the core pledges of their respective presidential candidates, while journalists and experts will join to discuss the future direction of science and medical policies under the next administration.

In the first session, which will focus on science and artificial intelligence (AI), Hwang Jeongah, Chair of the Science and Technology Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea’s campaign (National Assembly member), Choi Hyungdoo, Deputy Chair of the People Power Party’s campaign and Head of the G3 Leap AI Science Headquarters (National Assembly member), and Cho Yongmin, Co-Chair of the Reform Party’s campaign, will present their candidates’ science and AI policy pledges.

Following this, Lee Eunjung, President of the Korea Science Journalists Association (KBS Science Reporter), will serve as moderator. Park Jaemin, Chair of the Policy Planning Committee of CCRSTP (Professor at Konkuk University), Ryu Jeonghye, Co-Chair of the CCRSTP AI Future Forum, Cho Seunghan, reporter at Yonhap News Agency, and Ko Jaewon, reporter at Maeil Business Newspaper, will represent the scientific community in questioning and discussing the direction of science and AI policies, including innovation in science and technology governance, R&D budgets, enhancement of scientific literacy, and strengthening the AI ecosystem and talent development.

The second session will focus on healthcare policy pledges. Kang Cheonghee, Chair of the Special Committee on Healthcare of the Democratic Party of Korea; Kim Seonjeong, Head of the Healthy Healthcare and Welfare Headquarters of the People Power Party’s Policy Headquarters (Professor at Soonchunhyang University); and Lee Jooyoung, Co-Chair of the Reform Party’s campaign (National Assembly member), will each present their party’s pledges.

Cho Dongchan, Academic Director of the Korea Science Journalists Association (Professor at Hanyang University College of Convergence Medicine), will moderate the session. Kim Seonggeun, spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association (Professor at Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital), An Kijong, representative of the Korea Patient Organization Coalition, and An Gyeongjin, medical reporter at Seoul Economic Daily, will focus on discussing the candidates’ pledges regarding public medical schools and hospitals, lifelong welfare, and the independence of the Ministry of Health. They will also address various healthcare issues, such as unresolved conflicts between the medical community and the government, preparing for a super-aged society, and health insurance finance problems.

Lee Eunjung, President of the Korea Science Journalists Association, stated, “Despite the urgency and importance of issues such as the reduction of R&D budgets in the scientific community and conflicts between the government and the medical community, these topics are not being sufficiently addressed in policy discussions due to the rapid early presidential election triggered by the impeachment situation. As a leading media organization representing the scientific and medical communities, we have prepared this debate to scrutinize the pledges of major parties’ presidential candidates.”

An Junmo, Co-Representative of CCRSTP, said, “As this presidential election is being held on short notice, there is only political competition without concrete policy pledges. I hope that the discussions at today’s debate will offer constructive directions and be widely reflected in the new administration’s policies.”

The debate will be open for on-site participation on May 28, and will also be broadcast live from 2:00 p.m. on the YouTube channels of the Korea Science Journalists Association, KBS, MBC, SBS, and YTN.