Possibility of Last-Minute Medical Policy Talks Collapses Ahead of Indefinite Healthcare Strike

Government Requested Meeting with Medical Community, but No Response Received

Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association, is holding an emergency press conference on the morning of the 28th in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, expressing his position regarding the prosecution of residents who violated the Ministry of Health and Welfare's order to commence work.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Amid ongoing collective actions in the medical community such as resident doctors' work stoppages and physician strikes, it has been confirmed that the government’s recent request for a pan-medical sector meeting on the 28th to resolve the situation was canceled. Following the three-day general strike by doctors up to this day, the possibility of entering an indefinite general strike remains high, increasing concerns over medical service gaps.

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo requested the medical community to hold a pan-medical sector meeting to resolve the collective work stoppage by doctors. Minister Park and officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare have consistently attempted behind-the-scenes dialogue even during conflict phases to explore possibilities for negotiation. Minister Park’s meeting with heads of major national and private university hospitals the previous day was in the same context.

Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare, center), is answering reporters' questions after finishing a briefing on strengthening quarantine measures in the metropolitan area in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on the afternoon of the 28th.

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters briefing that day, Minister Park said, "We will suspend the controversial policies and seek solutions through sincere discussions after resolving the crisis," adding, "We ask the medical associations to cooperate magnanimously."

The request for the meeting was also promoted against this background. However, it was reported that the medical community dismissed the meeting request citing internal circumstances, resulting in its failure to materialize. On the same day, the government took a tough stance by expanding the work commencement order nationwide and initiating criminal charges, which sparked strong opposition from medical organizations centered around the Korea Medical Association. Korea Medical Association President Choi Dae-jip raised his voice against the government’s prosecution measures that morning, stating, "This is completely wrong and causes tremendous anger among all 130,000 doctors."

The Korea Medical Association is preparing to enter an indefinite strike following the second general strike scheduled from the 26th to this day. It is expected that the Pan-Medical Sector Special Committee for Fighting the Four Major Evils (Pan-TuWi) will hold a meeting in the afternoon to discuss the possibility of a third indefinite general strike and future directions for the struggle, deciding on countermeasures and intensity going forward.

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