Kim Jong-in Meets Choi Dae-jip: "Doctor Strike Must End Quickly... Will Mediate Conflict"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the Future United Party, met with Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), on the 23rd.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chairman Kim held a private meeting with President Choi at the National Assembly in the afternoon and urged the suspension of the strike. It is known that this meeting was arranged at the suggestion of the KMA.

Lee Jong-bae, Policy Committee Chairman of the United Party, who attended the meeting, told reporters after the meeting, "I expressed the position that the ongoing doctors' strike must stop quickly and that a second strike should not take place."

Lee said, "We have fully listened to the KMA's position. I believe this conflict exists because there has not been sufficient dialogue between the government and the KMA," and added, "I will play a role in narrowing the conflict between the government and the KMA."

He further explained, "The KMA's demand is that since the COVID-19 situation is severe, a consultative body should be formed after the situation ends to renegotiate, while the government’s position is to postpone the increase in medical school quotas and continue dialogue," adding, "There does not seem to be a large gap in the conflict situation, so I think it can be resolved through dialogue." Lee also urged, "I call on the government to actively engage in dialogue."

On the same day, judging that the COVID-19 resurgence is serious, the KMA sent an official letter proposing an urgent discussion on current issues to Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, the Democratic Party, and the United Party. The KMA has announced its plan to proceed with a general strike starting on the 26th unless the government withdraws its four major medical policies: expanding medical school quotas, establishing public medical schools, including herbal medicine prescriptions in insurance coverage, and telemedicine.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.