Daejeon Association Executive: "Speak Out Even If You Return"... Shift in Collective Action Sentiment

Seoyeonju, Vice President of Daejeon Association, "Making Efforts to Fill the Vacant Position"... Suggests Possibility of Return

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] The Korean Medical Association (KMA) reached an agreement with the government and ruling party on April 4 to call off the medical strike, but residents have expressed opposition, while the executive members of the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) hinted at the possibility of returning to work. This statement comes amid ongoing internal conflicts within the medical community over the agreement, drawing attention to whether there will be a shift in the residents' collective actions going forward.

Seo Yeon-ju, Vice President of KIRA, posted on KIRA's Facebook on April 4, saying, "I am deeply upset, regretful, and sorry to the point of feeling like dying," and added, "I believe the determination and unity shown by my colleagues and seniors and juniors, as well as the sincere solidarity of the nurses who willingly joined us, will not disappear."

Seo continued, "Even if we pause for a moment and return to our original positions, I earnestly ask that your interest and voices continue," and expressed, "I would like to apologize and thank all the medical staff and hospital personnel who have protected the hospitals in our absence, including professors, senior residents, nurses, radiology technicians, and staff members." She also said, "It will be very difficult for a while, but I will work even harder to fill the position I have left vacant." Seo concluded her post by stating, "KIRA will continuously monitor and raise its voice to ensure that the solutions we demanded are actually implemented."

◆ Ministry of Health Lowers Its Stance: "Withdrawal of Prosecution Against Striking Medical Staff and Postponement of Medical Licensing Exam" = By the afternoon of the same day, residents who had strongly opposed the agreement with the government by shouting "Withdraw the agreement with the government" hinted at the possibility of returning to work, which analysts attribute to the government's withdrawal of prosecutions against residents. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on April 4, "We are withdrawing the prosecution against six residents who were reported last month for failing to comply with the work commencement order," and "The deadline for re-registration for the practical exam of the medical licensing examination, originally scheduled for April 4, has been extended until midnight on April 6." This extension follows the announcement on March 31 to extend the practical exam by one week and reflects further consideration of the medical community's position.

Earlier, KIRA stated in a position paper, "The current agreement does not mention the protection of residents and medical students, and the KIRA emergency committee cannot stop collective action while even a single resident or medical student is harmed." In response, the Ministry of Health lowered its stance by withdrawing prosecutions against residents and further extending the medical licensing practical exam deadline on the afternoon of the same day, leading to an analysis that a shift in internal sentiment has formed. There was also an internal sense of crisis that if residents insisted on continuing the strike despite the government's ongoing concessions during the COVID-19 crisis, public opinion could turn even colder. On the same day, Lee Soo-jin, a former nurse and member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized, "When those in power use their power as a weapon to threaten the public, and when illegal collective actions take the irreplaceable lives of the people hostage, what should politics do and where should it stand?"

Meanwhile, KIRA officially raised concerns about procedural issues in the unilateral negotiation process led by KMA President Choi Dae-jip in a position statement released that afternoon. The KIRA emergency committee claimed, "We tried to fully express our opinions and derive a final draft in the 'Special Committee for the Fight Against the Four Major Evils in the Medical Community (Special Committee),' but we were excluded from the negotiation and agreement process." They expressed "deep regret over the procedural problems that occurred during the negotiation and agreement process so far," and requested "KMA President Choi and the Special Committee's negotiation team to verify the facts," showing signs of discomfort.

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