Minister of Welfare Cho Gyu-hong Visits Nursing Assistant Association... Continuous Nursing Act Efforts

On the 21st, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, visited the Korea Association of Licensed Practical Nurses to discuss current issues including the Nursing Act. This is the first time a Minister of Health and Welfare has visited the Korea Association of Licensed Practical Nurses.

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong (left) is shaking hands with Kwak Ji-yeon, President of the Korean Assistant Nurses Association.
[Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare]

Minister Cho held a meeting with Association President Kwak Ji-yeon and others, requesting active engagement in dialogue and communication along with gathering opinions on the mediation proposal for the Nursing Act. In response, President Kwak expressed willingness to accept the mediation proposal for the Nursing Act proposed by the ruling party and government in a magnanimous manner and stated that efforts will be made to engage in dialogue with related organizations.

Additionally, President Kwak pointed out, "While all other professions except licensed practical nurses have no restrictions on the upper limit of academic qualifications, only licensed practical nurses are limited to graduates of academies and specialized high schools as academic requirements for the national qualification exam," adding, "This has the potential to be unconstitutional as it infringes on constitutional rights to equality and the opportunity to receive education."

Minister Cho stated, "I express my gratitude for the efforts of licensed practical nurses who have worked for the promotion of public health and disease prevention in the healthcare field over the past 50 years, and congratulate the Korea Association of Licensed Practical Nurses on its 50th anniversary this year." He added, "Requesting that they stay by patients’ sides to provide stable medical services to the public, more dialogue and communication are needed regarding the Nursing Act, and the government will also do its best to mediate."

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