Controversy Over 'Division' Surrounds Moon, Jeong Cheong-rae Says "What Wrong Did the Encouraging President Do?"

"Doctors' Burdens Also Taken on by Nurses" President Moon Faces Division Controversy
Jung Cheong-rae: "Consider How Hard Nurses Work Before Speaking"
No Young-min: "I Thanked Doctors Multiple Times"

Jeong Cheong-rae, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid controversy over 'division' sparked by President Moon Jae-in comforting nurses guarding the doctors' strike site, Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out on the 2nd, "If you don't know anything, just stay quiet."

On the same day, Rep. Jeong posted an article titled "What exactly did President Moon do wrong?" on his Facebook.

He said, "There are people who pick fights with President Moon who comforted the hard work of nurses," and criticized, "What fault does the president have for comforting and encouraging the nurses who are working hard on the front lines of quarantine?"

He continued, "Those with twisted thoughts who pick fights just to pick fights and quarrel should take a look at how hard the nurses are working and speak after understanding the situation."

President Moon Jae-in is presiding over the senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House on the 31st of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, President Moon wrote on his Facebook that to the nurses, "You must be having a hard and difficult time fighting a long battle with COVID-19, and on top of that, you have to bear the burden of doctors' prolonged strike, so how hard and difficult it must be," adding, "I feel very sorry thinking about the nurses who have to endure poor working conditions, increased workload, and emotional labor."

He added, "During the recent heatwave, the heartbreaking news that medical staff who could not take off their protective suits at outdoor screening clinics were collapsing touched the hearts of the people. Although they were referred to as medical staff, the public knows well that most of them were nurses."

Some criticized President Moon's remarks praising nurses as inciting internal conflict within the medical community.

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party (formerly the United Future Party), pointed out on his Facebook, "President Moon's sowing discord among the people is excessive," and said, "Doctors opposing the Moon administration's medical policies are being provoked into internal strife between doctors and nurses. President Moon is encouraging a brawl between doctors and nurses."

However, the Blue House stated that President Moon's remarks did not have political intentions. Noh Young-min, Chief of Staff to the President, attended the National Assembly Steering Committee plenary session that day and dismissed the controversy over President Moon's 'division' remarks, saying, "So far, the president has expressed gratitude to doctors several times."

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