Government says "Residents opposed agreement"… Korean Medical Association says "Proposal, not agreement" (Summary)

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo is delivering an emergency government response statement regarding the Korean Medical Association's collective strike at the briefing room of the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The government announced that it had prepared an agreement with the Korea Medical Association (KMA) to "halt the policy of expanding medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools," but failed to prevent collective action due to last-minute opposition from residents. In response, the KMA denied ever reaching an agreement.

Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, said at a briefing held at the Government Seoul Office on the morning of the 26th, "There was a time when we reached an agreement with the Korea Medical Association to halt the contentious policy implementation and collective strikes, and to resolve issues through dialogue and consultation," adding, "It is deeply regrettable that the Korea Intern Resident Association reversed its position following their decision to fight."

Govt "Agreement drafted but residents rejected it"

At the briefing, the Ministry of Health and Welfare disclosed the details of consultations between the Minister and the KMA following the Prime Minister-KMA meeting on the 24th. According to this, during talks that continued until the early hours of the 25th, both sides agreed that ▲ the Ministry of Health and Welfare would suspend the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools until the spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area stabilizes, and after stabilization, all possibilities would be kept open for consultation with the Korea Medical Association. During the consultation period, unilateral policy implementation such as notifying medical school quotas would not be enforced ▲ the Ministry and the medical community would discuss developmental plans for the four major policies raised by the Korea Medical Association within the consultation body.

According to the agreement, the government's stance on expanding medical school quotas advanced from 'policy suspension' to 'policy halt.' However, it is reported that the Korea Intern Resident Association rejected this, preventing an agreement. Residents are doctors undergoing training to obtain specialist qualifications at university hospitals, known as interns or residents. The Korea Intern Resident Association, mainly composed of young doctors, reportedly concluded at the general assembly held the previous day that the contents of the agreement effectively only postponed the expansion of medical school quotas and implied continued promotion later, thus they could not accept it.

Minister Park criticized, "Both the Medical Association and the Korea Intern Resident Association rejected all government mediation proposals and insisted only on withdrawing the policy or re-examining it from scratch with the consent of medical organizations," adding, "Ultimately, they reversed the agreed contents, showed no sincerity or responsibility in consultations, and insisted on collective actions that threaten the lives and safety of the public."

On the morning of the 26th, when the total strike of residents began, Choi Dae-jip, the president of the Korean Medical Association, is making a statement regarding the strike at the Korean Medical Association studio in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Medical Association: "Not an agreement but a proposal... internal review finds 'unacceptable'"

In response, Choi Dae-jip, President of the KMA, immediately refuted the government's announcement through a KMA rally held on YouTube that morning. He emphasized, "The agreement document is only a proposal presented by the government, not a finalized agreement, and the KMA must conduct thorough internal review based on it," adding, "Preparing proposals, reviewing, revising, and reaching an agreement is the normal negotiation process."

President Choi explained, "The fact that the provisional agreement between the government and the KMA was rejected at the Korea Intern Resident Association general assembly and thus no agreement was reached is a different factual matter," and said, "Many members feel it is not yet an acceptable proposal, so no agreement was reached."

President Choi also strongly opposed the government's work commencement order issued to residents and fellows who went on collective strike that day, calling it an evil law. He stated, "The government's work commencement order denies doctors' right to collective action and is an evil law," and insisted, "This unconstitutional law must be abolished through litigation."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to file complaints for violations of the Fair Trade Act and impose administrative sanctions based on the Medical Service Act against the KMA, which pushed for the collective strike, along with the work commencement order. Regarding the movement to refuse the national exam by medical students, the ministry will strictly respond by confirming the individual's status and intention to cancel and processing exam cancellations accordingly.

The medical community began a three-day collective strike from the 26th to the 28th. Additionally, residents are conducting the 4th collective action 'Blackout,' disconnecting from external contact for 12 hours in protest against government policies.

President Choi stated, "If even one junior doctor who disobeys the government's work commencement order faces administrative sanctions or criminal charges, we will strongly resist with an indefinite general strike by all members," adding, "The KMA's legal team will also spare no legal advice regarding measures such as the work commencement order or Fair Trade Commission complaints."

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