Dentists' One-Day Closure, Nursing Sector Collective Action and Fasting... Extreme Conflict Over Nursing Act with No Resolution in Sight

President's Veto Exercise in Focus
Both Pro and Con Sides Intensify Pressure Levels

As President Yoon Suk-yeol's exercise of the veto power regarding the Nursing Act has become a matter of intense public interest, conflicts among healthcare professions in the medical and health sectors have reached their peak. The medical community opposing the Nursing Act has announced plans to expand the scale of the second partial strike, while the nursing community has pulled out pressure tactics such as collective action discussions and hunger strikes to prevent the exercise of the veto power.

The Health, Welfare, and Medical Solidarity held a press conference on the 8th, announcing plans for a second strike on the 11th while chanting slogans opposing the enactment of the Nursing Act.
[Photo by Health, Welfare, and Medical Solidarity]

The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity, which includes 13 healthcare professional organizations such as the Korean Medical Association, the Korean Association of Nursing Assistants, and the Korean Emergency Medical Technicians Association, announced their struggle plan for the second partial strike scheduled for the 11th during a press conference on the afternoon of the 8th. Notably, dentists who did not participate in the first partial strike will take a one-day closure, and the number of participating nursing assistants will increase from 10,000 to 20,000. Along with the participation of care workers, doctors will also expand partial shortened medical services nationwide.

In the press release, the Solidarity stated, “To minimize confusion in medical and welfare sites and to inform the public of the serious problems of the Nursing Act without threatening the public’s right to health, we will hold a nationwide simultaneous second partial strike.” They raised their voices, saying, “We must absolutely block the Nursing Act that disrupts medical collaboration and shakes the healthcare system.” The Solidarity explained that this escalation in struggle precedes the large-scale general strike scheduled for the 17th. Lee Pil-soo, president of the Korean Medical Association, said, “Whether the full strike will last for one day or two to three days will be decided after discussion with the emergency response committee.”

As the ruling party announced its intention to recommend the president exercise the veto power, the nursing community, feeling the growing crisis, is also escalating its struggle. The Korean Nurses Association has launched a survey on ‘nurses’ collective action’ targeting all its members. The card the association has pulled out is ‘license surrender.’ In a survey consisting of four items, the association asked whether active collective action is necessary for the promulgation of the Nursing Act and then inquired about participation if a ‘nurse license surrender campaign’ were to be conducted. Along with a campaign for one person to join one political party, they are also collecting opinions on other methods.

Members of the Korean Academy of Nursing Science and 11 specialized nursing societies held a press conference in front of the Presidential Office on the 8th, urging the fulfillment of promises regarding the Nursing Act.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Announcing the survey, the Korean Nurses Association stated, “The noble value of 500,000 nurses and 120,000 nursing students who absolutely refuse to strike at the expense of the public is being threatened, and there is no place left to retreat.” They appealed, saying, “The veto of the Nursing Act is tantamount to a death sentence.” Along with collective action, they will also conduct a hunger strike. On the 9th, the association plans to hold a ‘Hunger Strike Declaration Press Conference for the Enactment of the Nursing Act’ in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and then representatives will begin the hunger strike in front of the association’s building in Jung-gu.

Despite the occupational conflicts surrounding the Nursing Act reaching an extreme level, the lack of a mediator to resolve the conflict is also problematic. Regardless of the president’s decision, there is no suitable ‘exit strategy.’ The Ministry of Health and Welfare, the competent ministry, has expressed opposition and concerns about the enactment of the Nursing Act, limiting its role as a mediator. The Korean Nurses Association criticized the ministry’s actions, saying it “is using public authority to spread false information.”

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