Sim Sang-jung: "Proper Compensation Must Follow the Dedication of Nurses and Healthcare Workers in COVID-19 Prevention"

On the 1st, Meeting with Nurses at COVID-19 Dedicated Hospital

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 1st, Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, visited the medical frontline of COVID-19 prevention and emphasized that proper compensation must follow the dedication of healthcare workers such as nurses.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the early morning of the day, Candidate Sim visited Seoul Seonam Hospital, a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, and held a meeting with nurses, saying, "I keep telling the public that dedication and doing one's best must be followed by proper compensation, and that this is how the system works. Only then can the political sphere take proper responsibility," emphasizing this point.

Candidate Sim said, "The difficulties faced by healthcare workers are not just your problems but have become issues concerning the health and safety of the people of the Republic of Korea," adding, "Those working at dedicated COVID-19 hospitals seem to bear almost unlimited responsibility, so it must have been harder for you than for others."

Recalling her experience meeting medical staff at the National Medical Center last August, she said, "They told me that their shoes were soaked with sweat due to heat and overwork, and when they sobbed, I truly realized who is bearing the burden of K-Quarantine and how difficult the situation is for them."

She continued, "I was really shocked when I heard from the health status survey of healthcare workers presented at last year's National Assembly audit that 7 out of 10 nurses suffer from mental depression," adding, "It's hard to find jobs these days, but I was really shocked to hear that nearly half of the nurses quit within a year. How hard must it be to leave a position gained through investment during their youth?"

Candidate Sim then emphasized, "At this stage, active improvements and sufficient support are necessary so that healthcare workers, including nurses, can work properly," and stressed, "We will do our best to ensure that your working environment improves as soon as possible."

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