Jeong Eunkyung: "Establishing a Training Consultative Body for Resident Doctors' Return... Restoring Trust Is Key"

"Normalizing Government-Medical Community Relations Is the Most Urgent Task"
"Primary Care Must Be Strengthened in a Super-Aged Society"

Jeong Eunkyung, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, announced plans to establish a training consultative body as a measure to facilitate the return of resident doctors who have resigned. She identified resolving conflicts between the medical community and the government as the most urgent issue in health and welfare, emphasizing the importance of restoring trust to achieve this.

Jeong Eunkyung, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, is attending the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee on the 18th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

During the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee on the 18th, Jeong responded to a question from Nam Insoon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding measures to bring back resident doctors who have resigned. She stated, "We plan to create a training consultative body to swiftly improve the training environment for residents and provide an opportunity for them to receive proper training."

She also pointed out problems with the previous administration's medical reform. Jeong said, "There was a significant accumulation of problems within the medical system, so structural reform was needed first." She added, "After that, workforce policy should have been addressed through scientific projections as part of mid- to long-term restructuring plans, but this was not done."

Jeong also highlighted the resolution of conflicts between the medical community and the government as a pressing issue in the health and welfare sector. When asked which of her five key policy priorities submitted in writing she considered the most urgent, she replied, "Normalizing relations between the government and the medical community is the most pressing issue."

She further stressed the importance of restoring trust to achieve this. Jeong stated, "The breakdown of trust between the government and the medical community is the biggest problem. There is a need for transparent and democratic governance. We must establish procedures for various stakeholders to come together and discuss, and continue these discussions based on mutual trust."

She explained, "We will facilitate public discussions to gather citizens' opinions and create a policy governance structure where experts can reform the system and engage in communication."

Jeong also emphasized the need to strengthen primary care institutions. She said, "I believe we need to strengthen community-based primary care," noting, "With the rapid aging of the population and an increasing number of elderly people, it is essential for primary care physicians to provide proper coordination and continuous care for them."

She added, "Although a related pilot project is planned, I will work to develop policies and measures that can further strengthen primary care."