Ha Tae-kyung "Medical Staff, Please Return... Public Opinion Will Change If Strike Prolongs"

"The Issue of Increasing Medical School Quotas Will Be Reconsidered by the National Assembly" Promise

Ha Tae-kyung, the floor leader of the United Future Party in the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, is attending the full meeting of the Intelligence Committee held at the National Assembly on July 28. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] On the 2nd, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the Future United Party, urged, regarding the prolonged collective strike in the medical community, "The strike so far has sufficiently revealed the Moon Jae-in administration's flawed medical policies and the hypocrisy of establishing public medical schools," and appealed, "Stop the strike and stay by the patients' side."

On the same day, Ha said in a post on his Facebook, "The medical community should not escalate the conflict now but seek a truce."

He then promised that the National Assembly would reconsider the issue of increasing medical school quotas from scratch. He said, "The National Assembly will reconsider the issue of increasing medical school quotas from the beginning. The chairman of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee also promised not to pass any bill without bipartisan agreement," adding, "President Moon Jae-in has also stepped back, saying he will sufficiently consult with the National Assembly and the medical community."

He continued, "Everyone knows well the sacrifices and efforts of medical professionals to protect the lives of the people during the national crisis of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, there is still a long way to go," emphasizing the need for medical staff's presence more than ever to patients and the public, urging their return to the field.

Ha said, "The strike so far has sufficiently revealed the Moon Jae-in administration's flawed medical policies and the hypocrisy of establishing public medical schools. Many citizens support the intentions of the medical professionals," but warned, "If the strike prolongs and expands, causing citizens to lose their lives, public opinion will immediately change. I earnestly appeal to stop the strike and stay by the patients' side."

Earlier, the Future United Party visited the Korean Intern Resident Association (Daejeonhyeop), which is pushing for an indefinite strike in protest against government policies such as increasing medical school quotas, to request the return of residents to medical sites.

Members of the Future United Party, including Kang Ki-yoon, the party's floor leader in the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, demanded the suspension of the strike, stating, "Once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes, we will re-discuss medical policies such as increasing medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools from scratch through consultations with the medical community and the bipartisan government-party consultative body."

In response, the Daejeonhyeop said, "We feel heavy-hearted for not being able to be on the front lines during the COVID-19 crisis. Residents also want to return as soon as possible," and added, "If the government sincerely re-discusses the issue from scratch, we will return to the medical field."

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