Medical Association, Government, and Ruling Party Agree to Call Off Strike... Controversy Over Partial Agreement (Comprehensive)

Residents "No Strike Suspension by President Choi Dae-jip of the Korean Medical Association's Sole Decision"

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo (right) and Chairman Choi Dae-jip of the Korean Medical Association shake hands after signing the agreement to form the medical-government consultative body at the Government Seoul Office in Sejong-ro, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 4th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seo So-jeong and Cho Hyun-ui] On the 4th, although the ruling party, government, and the Korean Medical Association (KMA) reached a dramatic agreement to call off the medical strike, concerns about a 'half-hearted' resolution are growing as the Young Doctors Emergency Committee, led by the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), the main force behind the strike, is shouting for a 'complete withdrawal of the hasty agreement.' On the same day, the KMA announced that residents would return to medical sites today, but the residents declared their intention to continue the indefinite strike, saying, "The agreement was a unilateral decision by KMA President Choi Dae-jip," intensifying internal conflicts.

On the 4th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the KMA finalized negotiations related to medical policies, including the expansion of medical school quotas, and signed an agreement at 2:30 p.m. at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The agreement included the Ministry's suspension of expanding medical school quotas and establishing a public medical school, with all possibilities to be kept open for consultation with the KMA through the medical-government consultative body after the stabilization of the COVID-19 situation. Additionally, the Ministry agreed to respect the results of discussions within the parliamentary consultative body formed under the policy agreement between the KMA and the Democratic Party and not to unilaterally push forward policies such as notifying medical school quotas.

◆ Park Neung-hoo: "Reconsideration of Legal Actions Against Residents' Collective Leave" = Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo stated, "We welcome the KMA's decision to focus capabilities on responding to COVID-19 and to enter a dialogue and consultation stage, and the government will also sincerely engage in consultations." Minister Park conveyed, "The KMA has decided to stop the collective leave and return to medical practice," and urged, "Medical students whose national medical exam was canceled should re-register and take the exam." He also said, "Legal actions against residents who participated in the collective leave will be reconsidered."

However, the Young Doctors Emergency Committee, led by KIRA, is strongly opposing, demanding a "complete withdrawal of the hasty agreement." Initially, the signing ceremony between the Ministry and the KMA was scheduled for 11 a.m., but internal opposition centered on residents delayed the event, eventually leading to a change of venue. Minister Park and President Choi were unable to enter the signing venue due to the residents' occupation. Dozens of residents held placards reading "Oppose both hasty administration and hasty agreement" in front of elevators and corridors, blocking Minister Park from exiting the elevator. President Choi also failed to enter the building's basement.

Earlier that morning, the ruling party and the KMA held a final signing ceremony for the agreement, tentatively preparing five agreements including the re-examination of policies such as expanding medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools. However, once this was reported by the media, the Young Doctors Emergency Committee immediately opposed it. Through an urgent notice, the committee stated, "The government's announcement is not accurate," adding, "The agreement is ongoing but not finalized. The strike and collective actions will continue," causing confusion throughout the morning.

◆ Ruling Party: "Re-discussion from the Starting Point" vs. Residents: "Withdrawal Must Be Explicit" = The agreement between the KMA and the ruling party included wording that all possibilities regarding the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools would be kept open for re-discussion from the starting point. A ruling party official explained, "Since the Young Doctors Emergency Committee has continuously demanded explicit wording for 'withdrawal' and 're-examination from the starting point' of existing policies, the ruling party accepted this to reach the agreement." KMA President Choi Dae-jip also welcomed the agreement, saying, "After doctors expressed opposition through the first and second nationwide strikes and proceeded with discussions with the government and the National Assembly, it is late but quite welcome to have reached an agreement. Although the phrase 'policy withdrawal' is not included in the agreement, I consider 're-examination from the starting point' to have essentially the same meaning and will do my best to ensure it is properly implemented."

The Democratic Party agreed to prepare administrative and financial support measures necessary to improve the training environment for residents and working conditions for full-time doctors through the enactment and revision of related laws, including the Special Act on Residents, based on KIRA's demands. Furthermore, the agreement included provisions to closely cooperate to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and to develop and implement specific measures to protect medical personnel and support medical institutions.

However, the Young Doctors Emergency Committee insists that "everything is a unilateral decision by President Choi" and plans to continue the strike. It is reported that the hardliners within the committee are demanding that the agreement explicitly include the 'withdrawal' of the four major policies.

As residents' opposition intensified, President Choi tried to appease them at the signing ceremony with the Ministry, saying, "Although the Minister of Health and Welfare and I signed the explicitly stated agreement, I will soon discuss with young doctors including residents and, if there are deficiencies in the agreement, we will revise and supplement it."

As internal conflicts within the medical community continue, the agreement between the government, ruling party, and KMA on this day is increasingly likely to be a 'half-hearted' one. If residents, who are core personnel in hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis, do not return, the medical vacuum will inevitably worsen. A ruling party official said, "Currently, the Young Doctors Emergency Committee has unified its contact channel with the government as the 'Special Committee to Fight Against the Four Major Evils in the Medical Community (Beomtu-wi),' and it seems the KMA made the announcement after gathering opinions through this channel. Under these circumstances, it is hard to accept the committee's objection to being bypassed." He added, "The medical community must quickly stop internal strife," emphasizing, "There must be no further gaps in medical sites."

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