Jeong Cheong-rae "What Exactly Did President Moon Do Wrong?" vs Kim Geun-sik "Can't You Read?"

President Moon's 'Nurse Encouragement Post' Sparks Controversy
Jung Cheong-rae: "It Was to Comfort Nurses' Hard Work... If You Don't Understand, Stay Quiet"
Kim Geun-sik: "Even Elementary Students Can See It Criticizes Doctors... Can't They Read?"

Kim Geun-sik, Professor at Gyeongnam University and Chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong Party Committee of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, chairman of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee in Seoul, asked Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae, "Do you have dyslexia?" This was in response to Jeong's claim that questioned "What exactly did the president do wrong?" regarding President Moon Jae-in's nurse encouragement post on his social network service (SNS) account on the 1st.

On the 2nd, Professor Kim wrote on his Facebook, "Who says it is wrong for the president to encourage, thank, and comfort the hardworking nurses? The stated reason is to encourage nurses, but in reality, it is criticized because it sows discord between striking doctors and nurses who are protecting the field," he argued.

He continued, "There are two reasons why the president's post was wrong. First, it was during the doctors' strike. If the president's encouragement of nurses was sincere, he should have expressed gratitude long before the doctors' strike," adding, "Second, the point where nurses mentioned that they are 'taking on the burden of the striking doctors,' making their work harder and more difficult," he pointed out.

He then strongly criticized, "Even an elementary school student can see that the post clearly criticizes striking doctors and encourages nurses who are working hard instead. So, does lawmaker Jeong have dyslexia that he cannot read the post properly?"

Jeong Cheong-rae, Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, President Moon posted a message on his Facebook, Twitter, and other SNS accounts on the same day, comforting the hard work of nurses. In the post, President Moon said, "I comfort the nurses who are silently protecting the medical sites abandoned by doctors," and added, "During the recent heatwave, the heartbreaking news that medical staff at outdoor screening clinics could not take off their protective suits and were collapsing touched the hearts of the people."

He further added, "Although I used the term 'medical staff,' the public knows well that most of them were nurses."

In response, opposition parties claimed that the post was intended to encourage nurses to criticize doctors who are continuing collective sickouts in protest against the government's medical policies, such as expanding medical school quotas. They argued that President Moon is 'dividing' the medical staff.

President Moon Jae-in's message encouraging nurses posted on social networking services (SNS) such as Facebook on the afternoon of the 2nd. / Photo by Facebook Capture

On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung strongly criticized on his Facebook, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, President Moon chose to sow discord between doctors and nurses instead of uniting them. Does he want to become a third-rate president?"

Amid growing controversy, lawmaker Jeong posted on his Facebook, "What exactly is President Moon doing wrong?" and said, "There are people picking fights with President Moon who comforted the hard work of nurses, but if you don't understand, just stay quiet."

He added, "Those who pick fights and cause trouble with twisted thoughts should reflect on themselves," and said, "If you don't know how hard the nurses are working, please observe and then speak." He also attached a video of a medical staff member speaking about the nurses' hard work to his post.

Meanwhile, the Blue House dismissed the related controversy. When People Power Party lawmaker Park Dae-chul questioned at a National Assembly Steering Committee meeting, "The president divided sides again today. He said 'Doctors are regrettable, but nurses are devoted,' dividing the sides again," Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min responded, "The president has expressed gratitude to doctors many times so far," rebutting the claim.

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