Shin Hyun-young Proposes Bill to Dispatch Medical Personnel to North Korea During Disasters... Daejeon Association Says "We Are Not Objects"

Shin Hyun-young on Bill Controversy: "It Can Be Amended or Deleted"
Lee In-young: "Need to Verify If Shin Hyun-young's Bill Allows Medical Personnel Conscription"

On June 3rd, at the National Assembly Library in Yeouido, Seoul, Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who hosted the event, is giving a greeting speech at the discussion titled "COVID-19, How Should We Prepare for the Second Wave?" Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed a bill that would allow South Korean medical personnel to provide emergency support in the event of a disaster in North Korea. In response, the Korean Intern Resident Association (Daejeonhyup) criticized on the 31st, calling it "a clear example of how they view medical staff."

On the same day, Daejeonhyup shared an article about the bill proposed by Representative Shin on Facebook, stating, "We are not objects. We are also human beings. This is why we continue to fight." The association has been on an indefinite collective strike since the 21st, opposing government policies such as the expansion of medical school quotas.

Earlier that day, according to the National Assembly Bill Information System, Shin, who is a doctor, officially proposed the Act on the Promotion of Inter-Korean Health and Medical Exchange and Cooperation on the 2nd of last month.

The controversial part of the bill lies in Article 9, "Joint Disaster Response and Emergency Support." Paragraph 1 of Article 9 states, "The government shall endeavor to ensure that, in the event of a disaster requiring health and medical support in South or North Korea, joint response and emergency support of medical personnel, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals can be provided." Paragraph 2 states, "In the event of a disaster in North Korea as described in Paragraph 1, the government may provide necessary support or supervision to organizations conducting disaster rescue and relief activities as prescribed by Presidential Decree."

Recently, a similar controversy arose over the "Partial Amendment to the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management (Disaster Basic Act)" proposed by Democratic Party member Hwang Unha. This bill included medical personnel among the equipment, supplies, and facilities that disaster management agencies must stockpile and manage, drawing criticism from medical professionals.

Some citizens have claimed that "the Democratic Party is trying to establish a legal basis to forcibly dispatch medical personnel to North Korea in emergencies."

Former Future United Party lawmaker Min Kyung-wook also criticized on his Facebook that day, saying, "These people are now making laws to conscript Korean doctors when something happens in North Korea. They are clearly trying to infuriate doctors."

Photo by Shin Hyun-young, captured from the Facebook page of the Democratic Party of Korea.

In response to the controversy, Representative Shin posted on her Facebook on the 30th, stating, "The purpose was to enable mutual cooperation for medical personnel who actually want to exchange and cooperate with North Korean medical staff," and added, "If there are concerns that this might legally justify forced dispatch of medical personnel, it is naturally possible to amend or delete the provision."

She also said, "We will adjust the bill in a way that does not cause concern among medical personnel through sufficient consultation," and added, "If there are concerns about the use of the term 'South Korea' instead of 'Republic of Korea,' we can revise it after consulting experts on inter-Korean terminology."

Meanwhile, Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, said at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session that day regarding Representative Shin's bill, "I need to check further whether it is really possible to the extent of forced conscription or enlistment."

He continued, "I will assess to what extent that is possible," and added, "Basically, it would be desirable to discuss concretely the procedures and processes for mutual cooperation as an extension of the health and medical cooperation that has existed so far."

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