"Doctors Who Have Worked on the Frontline Are Being Treated Like Hostage Takers" Bae Hyun-jin Criticizes the Policy to Establish Public Medical Schools

Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin of the United Future Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] On the 30th, Bae Hyun-jin, a member of the Future United Party, criticized the government's push to establish public medical schools, calling it "a policy that slanders doctors who have been working on the front lines as if they were hostage-takers overnight."

In a post on her Facebook on the same day, Representative Bae said, "Since last spring, the entire nation has been enduring, and especially the medical staff have spent two harsh seasons in suffocating protective suits defending the frontline."

She added, "Nevertheless, we are reaching a tipping point," and pointed out, "Although it was brief, the government enjoyed the tearful efforts of both medical staff and the public as the success of K-quarantine, as if receiving a trophy. Isn't that enough?"

She emphasized, "At a time when the safety of the people is more precarious than ever," "the government must immediately stop the public medical school policy that is being pushed forward while slandering the doctors who have been working on the front lines."

She continued, "I hope President Moon Jae-in will stop the threatening political messages of division now and reassure the people with words of comfort and unity."

On the 30th, Bae Hyun-jin, a member of the United Future Party, posted a criticism of the government's establishment of a public medical school on her social network service. Photo by Bae Hyun-jin, United Future Party member, Facebook post capture

Meanwhile, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) announced that it will not stop the collective strike starting from the 7th of next month nor the indefinite strike currently being carried out by residents.

According to multiple media outlets, KMA President Choi Dae-jip officially announced at a press conference held at the temporary KMA building in Yongsan on the 28th, "If the government does not withdraw the policy, we will launch an indefinite general strike starting September 7th."

The KMA decided to escalate the strike in response to the prosecution of 10 residents who did not return despite the Ministry of Health and Welfare's order to resume work. The KMA has maintained the position that even if one doctor member suffers damage, it will respond with an indefinite general strike.

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