Busan Medical Association Recommends
"Appoint Him for the Normalization and Advancement of Korea's Medical System"
As President Lee Jaemyung announced the implementation of the "People's Recommendation System," which allows the public to directly recommend candidates for major public offices, the Busan Medical Association has recommended Lee Gukjong, Director of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, as a candidate for Minister of Health and Welfare.
According to the Busan Medical Association on June 11, the association submitted a letter of recommendation for the Minister of Health and Welfare to the Ministry of Personnel Management on this day.
In the letter, the Busan Medical Association stated, "We would like to recommend Professor Lee Gukjong as a candidate for Minister of Health and Welfare, as he is capable of normalizing South Korea's medical system and medical school education, which have been severely damaged under the Yoon Sukyeol administration. He can also address essential medical care and regional healthcare issues that are being experienced worldwide."
The association continued, "Professor Lee, known as the 'Hero of the Gulf of Aden,' has demonstrated outstanding expertise and dedication as a frontline trauma surgeon. As a soldier, he has worked with exceptional responsibility and a sense of duty for the nation and its people. He has consistently strived on the ground to improve the structural problems of the Korean medical system as well as the essence and functions of public healthcare."
They added, "If you truly wish to restore and advance the medical system of South Korea, we earnestly request that the President make every effort to appoint him as Minister of Health and Welfare."
Meanwhile, President Lee announced the previous day via Facebook that he would accept public recommendations for high-level officials, including candidates for ministers and vice ministers. The scope of recommendations includes major public office candidates such as ministers, vice ministers, and heads of public institutions who can be appointed by the President. Anyone can participate by submitting a recommendation on the official website of the People’s Recommendation System operated by the Ministry of Personnel Management, or by using President Lee’s official social networking service (SNS) accounts or email. Recommendations will be accepted for one week starting from this day.
The submitted recommendations will be compiled into a database and then undergo personnel verification and public scrutiny by the Office of Public Discipline in the Presidential Office. If a candidate is deemed suitable through this process, they will proceed to the formal appointment stage.
President Lee stated, "True democracy begins when the people become the owners, directly participate, and drive change," and called for public participation by saying, "Please help select the real workers who will lead South Korea." He further emphasized, "This People’s Recommendation System will be a meaningful first step, not only changing the personnel process but also enabling the people to become the main agents of national governance and exercise leadership."
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