Healthcare General Strike 'D-1', Final Negotiations Begin... Kim Bu-gyeom: "If a Grand Decision Is Made, We Will Do Our Best to Implement It"

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum visited the site of the 13th practical labor-management negotiation between the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union (Health and Medical Union) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, held at the Healthcare Institution Evaluation and Accreditation Institute in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. He made remarks urging efforts to reach an agreement through labor-management consultations and requested restraint from strikes. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The nationwide general strike announced by the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is just one day away. Although the union and the government have entered last-minute negotiations before the strike, it remains uncertain whether they can find a compromise on the core demands.

The Health and Medical Workers' Union and the Ministry of Health and Welfare began the 13th labor-government practical consultation on the afternoon of the 1st at the Medical Institution Evaluation and Certification Institute in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Unusually, prior to the talks, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol, and Na Soon-ja, Chairperson of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, personally attended the negotiation venue.

Prime Minister Kim said, "I once again express my regret and apology for the fact that you, the members of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, are bearing all kinds of sacrifices alone," adding, "Among various demands, the government will quickly implement those it can respond to first, and for parts that cannot be fulfilled solely by government will, we will seriously review them and especially discuss budget issues and related institutional improvements with the National Assembly." He continued, "If you leave the field, please make a magnanimous decision considering the pain and difficulties the public will have to endure," and promised, "If we reach an agreement, the government will do its best to carry it out and keep its promises."

Minister Kwon also said, "Most disagreements have been resolved, but for unresolved issues, the delegation will sincerely engage in negotiations," and added, "Parts not included in the government budget will be included during the National Assembly's deliberation process if an agreement is reached today."

The government's negotiation team also expressed its determination to prevent the strike through maximum consultation. Lee Chang-jun, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "We are thinking in a way that listens to the hardships of personnel currently working on the COVID-19 frontlines," adding, "Today, we will sincerely negotiate to narrow differences on the remaining five tasks with the will to resolve various issues so that it does not lead to a strike, which is the government's firm position."

Park Hyang, Director of Public Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, also said, "I came with the same mind," and expressed, "We will do our best with the hope that we can overcome the COVID-19 crisis smoothly by learning from each other."

On the 1st, one day before the general strike of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, Song Geum-hee, Secretary General of the Health and Medical Workers' Union (right), is giving an opening remark at the 13th practical labor-management negotiation between the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union (Health and Medical Workers' Union) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare held at the Healthcare Institution Evaluation and Accreditation Institute in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The union side also expressed its intention to produce the best possible plan to avoid a strike while urging the government to show a progressive negotiation stance. Song Geum-hee, Secretary General of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, said, "If labor-government negotiations break down, it will be difficult to prevent a general strike," and demanded, "Since the Ministry of Health and Welfare requested negotiations with a progressive proposal today, please submit a negotiation plan so that we can stay by the patients' side and not leave them behind."

Lee Sun-hee, Vice Chairperson of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, also said, "I hope today's negotiations conclude well so that the field does not enter a strike and a good settlement can be reached," adding, "I hope this will not be negotiations that leave only unfulfilled promises but that promises will be faithfully implemented so that we can respond to future infectious diseases, expand personnel and public healthcare as we wish, and create a medical system capable of effectively responding to infectious diseases without future medical crises."

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