Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "Healthcare Workers, Please Protect Medical Sites"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, earnestly appealed to healthcare workers to stay on the front lines in relation to the announced total strike by healthcare professionals.

On the 1st, the mayor issued an appeal stating, "I would like to express my deep respect and gratitude to the healthcare workers who have been silently dedicating themselves on the front lines of quarantine and medical care against COVID-19, which has continued for 1 year and 8 months."

He continued, "It was because of the medical professionals that we were able to protect the lives of citizens and the safety of our community despite numerous crises," adding, "Therefore, the news of the total strike announced by healthcare workers is a great shock to our citizens."

He also said, "The pain that healthcare workers, who are struggling while putting their own lives and safety aside, must endure is beyond words," and "I fully empathize with and understand the urgent voices from the medical field demanding the strengthening of the public healthcare system, workforce expansion, and improvement of treatment conditions."

Then he earnestly said to the healthcare workers, "Nevertheless, I earnestly ask you, healthcare workers, that there is no value more important than protecting the medical field and caring for patients in times of crisis. You are absolutely necessary to our citizens."

He stated, "To protect the lives of citizens and the safety of the community from COVID-19, which is constantly looking for any 'gaps,' we must unite more firmly and establish a watertight and dense quarantine network," and requested, "Since the government has once again expressed its determination to sincerely engage in negotiations with the healthcare labor union, I ask the medical professionals of Gwangju not to let go of the thread of dialogue."

Finally, he added, "Gwangju has demonstrated even stronger solidarity in moments of crisis," and "With the dedicated efforts of healthcare workers and the active cooperation of citizens in quarantine and participation in vaccinations, the time for recovery of daily life is approaching reality. Let us endure just a little longer together and gather our strength and wisdom."

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