Lee Cheol-gyu: "The Opposition Intentionally Created Toxic Clauses to Portray Yoon as Uncommunicative"

Secretary-General Yeo's KBS Radio Interview
"Why oppose adding clauses like 'no opening'?"

Lee Cheol-gyu, Secretary General of the People Power Party, claimed on the 17th that President Yoon Seok-yeol's exercise of the veto power on the Nursing Act bill was "intentionally done to include poison clauses that the government could never accept, forcing the exercise of the veto power and ultimately creating an image of communication failure between the president and the government."

Lee appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the same day and said, "I do not think every part of the Nursing Act is wrong."

He added, "Looking at the ruling Democratic Party's legislative rampage, they even neutralize agenda adjustments and mobilize as a rubber stamp to forcibly pass bills, which is undesirable. Especially, if this is such a good law, why didn't the Democratic Party enact the Nursing Act during the past two years when they controlled the government, the executive branch, and the legislature?"

Lee Cheol-gyu, Secretary General of the People Power Party. [Photo by Yonhap News]

He then summarized the key issues of the Nursing Act as ▲ excluding demands from other medical sectors such as nursing assistants and care workers ▲ adding a clause prohibiting nurses from opening clinics independently ▲ restricting the academic qualifications of nursing assistants.

Lee argued, "If it is called the Nursing Act, it should not only regulate the rights and duties of nurses but also encompass the rights and duties of nursing assistants and care workers. The bill does not include the voices of nursing assistants and care workers."

He continued, "Secondly, regarding the community healthcare system, if there is a clause stating that opening a clinic is not allowed or that one will not open a clinic, other medical professionals will oppose it. Thirdly, there is the issue of restricting the academic qualifications of nursing assistants." Lee said, "If these issues are amended, supplemented, and consensus is reached, why would anyone oppose this law?"

Regarding the need for a caregiving and care system rather than hospitals and clinics, he stated, "When I lived with my mother and mother-in-law, I felt the need for such services. There are parts where elderly people can receive sufficient services with just the help of nurses without going to the hospital or receiving medical treatment." He added, "To do that, we need to put our heads together and reach a social consensus on how far to allow it."

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