"Opposition to Hasty Agreement" by Resident Doctors' Occupation... Government and KMA Change Signing Venue (Update)

On the 4th, Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association, was heading to the Korea Health Promotion Institute in Jung-gu, Seoul, to sign a policy agreement for the re-discussion of medical school quotas with Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, but turned back due to opposition from residents./Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the government and the Korea Medical Association (KMA) finalized negotiations on medical policies including the expansion of medical school quotas and agreed to sign a memorandum, the signing ceremony venue was changed due to internal opposition mainly from resident doctors.

The government and the KMA had planned to hold the signing ceremony at 1 PM on the 4th at the Korea Health Promotion Institute in Jung-gu, Seoul, but the ceremony was continuously delayed as resident doctors occupied the venue while holding picket protests.

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo and KMA President Choi Dae-jip were unable to enter the signing venue due to the occupation by resident doctors. Dozens of resident doctors stood in front of the elevator and hallway holding pickets with the phrase "Oppose both hasty administration and hasty agreement," blocking Minister Park from exiting the elevator. President Choi also failed to enter from the building’s basement.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Welfare changed the signing venue to the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, around 1:33 PM. The signing ceremony was originally scheduled for 11 AM that day but was adjusted to the afternoon due to opposition from resident doctors. However, with the venue change again, the signing event is being further delayed.

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