[Summary] "Why Should We Fight Among Ourselves?" President Moon's 'Division' Controversy Sparks Anger Even Among Nurses

President Moon: "Nurses are bearing the burden of striking doctors"
Medical community agrees on 'division' controversy: "Stop sowing discord and address the core issues"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kim Yeon-joo] Amid controversy over 'dividing sides' between doctors and nurses after President Moon Jae-in expressed gratitude to nurses by saying, "You must bear the burden of striking doctors as well, so it must be very difficult," not only doctors but also nursing organizations have criticized the president's remarks.

On the 2nd, President Moon Jae-in posted a message of gratitude on Facebook expressing sympathy for the hard work of nurses.

In his Facebook post, President Moon said, "I comfort the nurses who are silently guarding the medical sites left by doctors such as residents and express my deep gratitude and respect for their dedication and hard work."

He added, "Furthermore, as the medical service gap increases patient inconvenience, they have to endure criticism and verbal abuse. Thinking of the nurses who suffer from poor working conditions, increased workload, and emotional labor makes me very saddened."

He continued, "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," emphasizing, "Although they were referred to as medical staff, the public knows well that most of them were nurses."

He also promised, "The government will seek ways to alleviate the difficulties of nurses even a little. The government will do its best to support expanding nursing personnel, improving working conditions, and enhancing treatment," and pledged, "We will promptly start with what can be done immediately, such as increasing nursing staff at public hospitals on the front lines of COVID-19 prevention."

President Moon Jae-in posted a "thank you message to nurses" on Facebook on the 2nd, sparking controversy over "division," while voices criticizing this are rising. Photo by Instagram post capture

As the post spread on social networking services (SNS), the medical community pointed out that it might be 'dividing sides' between doctors and nurses.

Seo Yeon-ju, vice president of the Korean Intern Resident Association, appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' on the 3rd to criticize the government's attitude.

Vice President Seo said, "We had judged that internal trust and feelings of anger or disappointment were largely alleviated, but the message left by the president yesterday worsened the emotional state again."

She added, "The Young Nurses Society says that such dividing sides is not appropriate for recovering this situation, and in fact, both nurses and doctors have suffered the most during the COVID-19 situation, so the government should show sincerity to help colleagues return to hospitals quickly. This way of dividing sides is not right, and we would appreciate it if you could take these comments into consideration."

On SNS, dissatisfaction with President Moon's post is also rising. One netizen said, "It is not only nurses but also doctors who fill the positions left by residents and do their best to endure," adding, "The expression 'nurses bear the burden of doctors' is deeply hurtful to doctors who silently endure and work." They hoped, "I hope this expression was not used with any particular intention."

Another netizen said, "Please listen to those who are directly working on the front lines," sarcastically referring to President Moon's recent mention of the Hippocratic Oath by saying, "If Hippocrates were a doctor in our country now, he would have quit."

President Moon Jae-in posted a message of gratitude to nurses on Facebook on the 2nd, which sparked controversy over 'division.' In response, the nursing organization 'Jeolmeun Ganhosa Hoe' released a statement. Photo by Jeolmeun Ganhosa Hoe Facebook

In particular, even within the nursing community that received the message of gratitude from President Moon, criticism of the 'dividing sides' controversy is emerging.

The Young Nurses Association posted on its official Facebook account on the 2nd, saying, "We appreciate the recognition of nurses' hard work," but also pointed out, "Poor working conditions, increased workload, and emotional labor did not suddenly arise due to doctors' collective actions."

They added, "If medical personnel are desperately needed, please firmly protect the current medical personnel first," and criticized, "The way to reduce nurses' difficulties is not increasing nursing college admissions or the regional nurse system."

The 'Active Nursing Society' also stated in a position paper that "Although confusion has arisen in medical sites due to doctors' absence, confusion is not new to nurses," explaining, "Even before COVID-19 and before doctors' collective actions, nurses suffered from a shortage of medical personnel and excessive workloads."

They continued, "We hope President Moon's post is not another form of the 'Thanks Challenge,' and policies such as creating a safe working environment so nurses can continue working, improving poor salary systems, and establishing concrete education systems and budgets should be implemented and legally enforced in each hospital," emphasizing the need for these measures.

Meanwhile, Go Min-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out that the meaning of the message intended to convey gratitude was distorted amid the controversy over President Moon's post.

On the 3rd, Go posted on her Facebook, "There is a fuss calling the president's message of thanks to nurses 'dividing sides,' and I was surprised to see it could be viewed that way."

She added, "It is like reaching out a hand to someone collapsed on the street and being met with anger asking for the intention behind it," questioning, "Should we just pass by when someone is hurt, pretending not to see?"

She continued, "Is it so difficult to simply appreciate someone's dedication and accept gratitude at face value?" expressing skepticism, "What has made us so sensitive?"

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