"20,000 Participate in Simultaneous Sit-in Strikes Opposing the Nursing Act... 'Reconsideration Must Take Place'"

Holding a Rally in Yeouido to Condemn the Democratic Party
President of the Korean Assistant Nurses Association Transported During Hunger Strike

On the afternoon of the 3rd, healthcare professionals including doctors, nursing assistants, and emergency medical technicians who oppose the enactment of the Nursing Act held simultaneous rallies nationwide along with a 'leave-of-absence strike.' Kwak Ji-yeon, president of the Korea Nursing Assistant Association (KNA), who was on a hunger strike, was transported to a nearby hospital due to dehydration symptoms.

The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity, which includes 13 healthcare professional groups, held a "Democratic Party Condemnation Rally for the Forced Passage of the Nursing Act and License Revocation Act" at 13 locations nationwide, including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and Gyeonggi, that afternoon. Approximately 20,000 nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, radiologists, and health information managers participated nationwide, including 3,000 in Seoul, taking leave to join the protest.

The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity, opposing the enactment of the Nursing Act, held a rally and street march on the 3rd in front of Yeouido National Assembly Station in Seoul.
[Photo by Korea Assistant Nurses Association]

In Seoul, the rally was held in front of the National Assembly Station from 5:30 p.m. They claimed, "The Nursing Act is a 'Nurse Privilege Act' that grants all kinds of special benefits only to nurses," and "The minor healthcare professions in the health and welfare medical field are having their work usurped and jobs taken away by nurses, making this a 'Minor Profession Livelihood Deprivation Act.'" They continued, "The Democratic Party pushed through this flawed law unilaterally without proper discussion," and criticized, "We must prevent the Nursing Act and License Revocation Act from being enacted according to the Democratic Party's will. It must be reconsidered in the National Assembly."

Kwak Ji-yeon, president of the KNA, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days since the 25th of last month, appealed, "We need the public's help to enable the National Assembly to reconsider the Nursing Act," and "Please help the public so that nursing assistants can live proudly as part of Korea's nursing workforce by re-discussing the Nursing Act." After reading her appeal, Kwak's health deteriorated during the rally, and she was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The Medical Solidarity plans to conduct a second leave-of-absence strike on the 11th, and if there is no change such as a reconsideration of the Nursing Act, they intend to launch a full-scale general strike on the 17th.

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