Choi Dae-jip: "Medical Community's Demands Can't Be Met by Struggle Alone... Please Return to Practice"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Choi Dae-jip, president of the Korean Medical Association, urged on the 4th, "The proper medical environment and rational medical system that the medical community desires cannot be achieved through struggle alone," and asked, "Please return to the clinical field."

This comes amid internal opposition within the medical community, mainly from residents, despite the government, ruling party, and the medical association reaching a final agreement on the same day to "reconsider from the starting point" the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools.

Before the signing ceremony of the agreement with the Ministry of Health and Welfare in the afternoon, President Choi stated in a message to members, "We must create the desired medical environment and rational medical system through dialogue and discussion that will be obtained as a result of the struggle."

He said, "I understand concerns that the medical community might be deceived and divided again, and I also know the bewilderment of young doctors standing on the front lines of the struggle," adding, "While probing the ruling party's intentions with the unified medical community proposal approved by the Pan-Medical Community Struggle Committee, I too had no choice but to deeply contemplate."

Nevertheless, he said, "I thought it was the role of the association president to calmly consider what would be gained and lost in the process of obtaining the two words 'withdrawal' and to choose a better direction even if it meant enduring misunderstandings and criticism."

He went on to explain the background of the agreement, saying, "I could not help but think of the residents who have been reported, the hundreds of residents for whom the Ministry of Health and Welfare is postponing reports, and the medical students who will lose the opportunity to take exams after today."

President Choi emphasized, "We will definitely turn the precious achievements made mainly by young doctors into tangible results," and urged, "The medical community must not be divided. Please unite your strength in the Korean Medical Association."

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