Will 'Quarantine Expert' National Health Insurance Service Director Be Nominated?... Jeong Ho-young Does Not Support

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The call for candidates for the next chairman of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), vacant due to the resignation of former Chairman Kang Do-tae, has closed. Professor Jeong Ki-seok of Hallym University College of Medicine has emerged as the most likely candidate, while it has been confirmed that Professor Jeong Ho-young of Kyungpook National University College of Medicine, who was expected to apply, did not submit an application.

Jung Ki-seok, head of the COVID-19 Special Response Team and chair of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, is reported to have applied for the next chairman position of the National Health Insurance Service.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the medical community on the 21st, the NHIS chairman recruitment, which closed at 6 p.m. the previous day, received applications from Professor Jeong Ki-seok, Professor Jang Sung-in of Yonsei University College of Medicine, and former NHIS Executive Directors Kim Pil-kwon and Kim Deok-su.

Professor Jeong Ki-seok, a native of Daegu, graduated from Gyeongbuk High School and Seoul National University College of Medicine. He has served as Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and Director of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, and is currently a professor in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. He is regarded as one of the top infectious disease experts in Korea, having led the response to the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak as KCDC Director in 2016. Currently, with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, he serves as Chair of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee and Head of the COVID-19 Special Response Team, leading COVID-19 prevention efforts.

Professor Jang Sung-in serves as a director of the Korean Social Security Association and head of the Health Policy and Management Research Institute at Yonsei University Medical Center. He also has experience working in President Yoon Seok-yeol’s campaign headquarters and transition committee. Unlike the usual senior figures in the healthcare sector who apply for the NHIS chairman position, he is in his early 40s and has expressed ambitions to lead health insurance reform as a young leader.

Both former directors Kim Pil-kwon and Kim Deok-su have over 20 years of experience working at NHIS and have held the position of Executive Director of Planning, overseeing the operation of the NHIS. Based on their expertise and familiarity with internal affairs, they have thrown their hats into the ring for the chairman position. Since there has never been a chairman from among NHIS employees, it remains to be seen whether this will be a first.

Professor Jeong Ho-young, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, Professor Jeong Ho-young, who was widely mentioned as the most likely candidate amid rumors of his application, ultimately did not apply. Although he was disqualified as a candidate for Minister of Health and Welfare last year due to various allegations, all suspicions including preferential admission of his child to medical school and his son's violation of military service laws were cleared with no charges in January, leading to expectations that he would seek to restore his reputation. However, he did not apply. Additionally, given his close ties with President Yoon, concerns were raised that related controversies might resurface and burden political management.

The NHIS chairman is appointed after the Executive Recommendation Committee selects candidates through document screening and interviews, followed by a proposal from the Minister of Health and Welfare and approval by the President. More than a month and a half has passed since former Chairman Kang stepped down, and with health insurance fee negotiations scheduled to begin next month, the NHIS is reportedly planning to expedite the process and complete the appointment of the next chairman by mid-next month.

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