Hong Joon-pyo: "The Medical Staff Are the First to Have Forced the Left-Wing Regime to Submit"

On the morning of the 4th, when the medical community reached an agreement with the government on negotiations related to the expansion of public healthcare policies and ended the strike, a medical official who was holding a solo protest in front of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital in Seocho-gu is seen packing up the placard and entering the hospital. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] As the Democratic Party of Korea and the Korean Medical Association (KMA) have decided to reopen discussions on government policies and related bills, including the expansion of medical school quotas, keeping all possibilities open, independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo stated on the 5th, "The first to have forced the left-wing regime’s misdeeds to yield since the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration was not the opposition party, but you (the medical professionals)."

On the same day, Hong posted on his Facebook, "Despite the backlash of public opinion, I was the first to see the medical professionals’ strike as justified and actively supported it."

He added, "While there is some merit to the argument that the KMA leadership should break the agreement with the government and ruling party and return to the streets, I believe now is the time for the medical community to unite as one," and said, "If the agreed terms are not upheld, it will not be too late to launch a large-scale struggle against the government at that time."

He continued, "You cannot get everything at once, nor can you completely force the other side to yield in the world," and said, "If it were not for you, the medical reform would have passed unilaterally through the National Assembly like the previous real estate policy reform. Let us all unite to block the medical reform. I will continue to support you."

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