Nursing and Health Workers' Unions Condemn Veto of Nursing Act... Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity Welcomes It (Comprehensive)

Nursing Association "Will Hold President Politically Responsible"
Union "The True Face of Doctor Republic"
Medical Solidarity Postpones General Strike on 17th

The responses of health and medical organizations to President Yoon Suk-yeol's exercise of the veto power on the Nursing Act bill were mixed. The nursing community, whose long-cherished goal of enacting the Nursing Act was blocked, immediately protested, while medical professionals and other health care sectors welcomed the decision and postponed the planned general strike. The conflict among health care professions caused by the political sphere is expected to continue for the time being.

Kim Young-kyung, President of the Korean Nurses Association, is reading a statement at a press conference urging the promulgation of the Nursing Act held in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the morning of the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korean Nurses Association and the National Movement Headquarters for the Enactment of the Nursing Act held a press conference on the 16th in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, immediately after the Cabinet meeting, strongly criticizing, saying, "We will hold President Yoon politically responsible for breaking his promise" and "We will punish the politicians and bureaucrats who destroyed the Nursing Act through the activities of the General Election Planning Group."

They stated, "We respectfully demand that the Nursing Act, on which the veto power has been exercised, be reconsidered immediately by the National Assembly," adding, "The People Power Party's mediation proposal on the Nursing Act was nullified by the party itself during the briefing on the results of the high-level party-government meeting on the 14th by making false claims. And today, the President's exercise of the veto power on the Nursing Act confirmed this decisively." They further raised their voices, saying, "Although the Nursing Act, deliberated and passed through proper procedures in the National Assembly, has unfortunately been stranded, the truth and historical context during the National Assembly's discussion process still live and breathe, so we will organize the power and wisdom of that truth to re-promote the Nursing Act in the National Assembly."

The Health and Medical Workers' Union also condemned President Yoon's exercise of the veto power. The union pointed out, "This confirms how narrow-minded the President's perception of the Nursing Act is," and said, "Before and after the presidential election, the government and the People Power Party declared the enactment of the law as necessary, but then, swayed by the distorted claims of some professional groups, suddenly turned the Nursing Act into a law that would collapse the medical system, inciting social conflict." The union particularly criticized, "The level of politics that nullifies even the legitimate legislative power of the National Assembly and exercises veto power selectively according to the government's taste based on political positions is beyond regrettable and shameful," adding, "It is deeply unfortunate to see administrative dictatorship that stops laws passed by the National Assembly due to political logic, and the true face of a medical republic where no law can be enacted if the medical associations oppose it."

Members of the Health, Welfare, and Medical Solidarity are shouting slogans for the 'Repeal of the Nursing Act' in front of the War Memorial in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 16th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

On the other hand, medical professionals and other health care sector organizations, who had opposed the Nursing Act as a bill for a specific profession, welcomed the decision and decided to postpone the general strike scheduled for the 17th. The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity, which includes 13 health and welfare professional organizations such as the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, stated at a press conference that day, "The President's exercise of the veto power this time is the only means and the best decision to overcome the current situation." They also argued that the Medical License Revocation Act (amendment to the Medical Service Act) should be promptly amended by the National Assembly. The Medical Solidarity said, "It is a bill that allows license revocation for reasons completely unrelated to medical practice, such as traffic accidents," and expressed regret that it was excluded from the scope of the veto this time.

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