Working in the Emergency Room at Ulleung County Public Health Medical Center
"I Will Reflect on My Future Path Here"
Dan Park, former emergency committee chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), who led the mass resignation of medical residents in protest against the expansion of medical school admissions, has begun working in the emergency room at the Ulleung County Public Health Medical Center in North Gyeongsang Province.
On October 1, Park announced on his Facebook page, "I have wrapped up my exhaustion and wandering and finally reached the easternmost point across the sea," adding, "Starting in October, I will be working in the emergency room at the Ulleung County Public Health Medical Center."
He continued, "I intend to reflect on my future path here," and added, "I have decided to stay at the hospital throughout the holiday. I wish everyone a healthy and peaceful Chuseok."
Park was in his second year of residency in emergency medicine at Severance Hospital when he was elected chairman of KIRA in August 2023. He subsequently led a hardline protest against the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's plan to increase the medical school quota.
At the time, he declared on Facebook, "Thanks to a disastrous policy that completely ignores the reality on the ground, I was able to give up my dream of becoming a pediatric emergency medicine specialist without regret," and stated, "I have no intention of returning to the hospital."
However, as the prolonged conflict between the government and the medical community continued, criticism arose that Park, as emergency committee chairman, was not representing the diverse opinions of residents and was instead pursuing a struggle without alternatives. As a result, he resigned from the emergency committee in June.
Afterwards, Park attempted to reapply for the emergency medicine residency program at Severance Hospital in the second half of this year, but was ultimately not accepted. In August, he shared on Facebook, "A few days ago, I submitted an application for the emergency medicine residency program at Severance Hospital, hoping to resume my training in the emergency room," and added, "Today, I was notified that I was not accepted."
He went on to say, "It's a bit disappointing not to be able to be with my fellow residents with whom I shared both the hardships and joys of the emergency room, but there's no other choice. This, too, is because of my own shortcomings," and added, "I plan to take some more time to cool off and think about how I should live going forward."
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