Aftermath of 'Nursing Act Veto' Continues... Nursing Community's Collective Action Intensifies

Nursing Association Holds Large-Scale Protest Rally in Gwanghwamun Today
Encourages "Lawful Struggle"... "Refuse Illegal Work Orders"
Ministry of Health and Welfare Holds Consecutive Meetings with Hospital Sector

The aftermath of President Yoon Suk-yeol's exercise of the veto power on the enactment of the Nursing Act continues. On the 19th, the nursing community held a large-scale rally to condemn the veto and encouraged participation in the ongoing 'law-abiding struggle.'

On the 17th, the Korean Nurses Association announced plans for future collective actions, including lawful protests, in response to the president's veto of the Nursing Act, and held a press conference urging the re-enactment of the Nursing Act. Kim Young-gyeong of the Korean Nurses Association is reading the statement at the press conference. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

The Korean Nurses Association will hold a 'General Rally to Condemn the Exercise of the Veto on the Nursing Act' at 1 p.m. in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul. The association expects 100,000 participants at the rally. Nurses, nursing college professors, and students are expected to participate in large numbers. Previously, the association had announced a direction for collective action through a 'leave struggle,' encouraging nurses to apply for annual leave. Kim Young-kyung, president of the Korean Nurses Association, stated, "We will not strike by holding the lives and safety of the people hostage until the end," but added, "We will carry out collective action through organized annual leave struggles."

This rally is expected to mark the beginning of a full-scale 'law-abiding struggle' by nurses. The association declared that it will refuse doctors' orders related to illegal medical practices and reject doctors' instructions regarding the duties of other health professions such as clinical pathologists. The illegal medical practices listed by the association include proxy prescriptions, proxy surgeries, proxy records, blood collection, ultrasound and electrocardiogram tests, arterial blood sampling, chemotherapy preparation, suturing, and entering surgical fees. In a statement sent to all members the day before, the association emphasized, "We will surely judge the politicians who branded the Nursing Act as a bad law and led to the president's exercise of veto power," and urged, "Please strongly refuse all kinds of illegal work orders occurring in medical settings."

In response to the nursing community's collective actions, the government requested cooperation for stabilizing medical sites by monitoring medical workplaces and meeting with hospital representatives for two consecutive days. On the 17th, Park Min-soo, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, met with Yoon Dong-seop, president of the Korean Hospital Association, and other leaders of major hospital organizations, and the day before, held a meeting with directors of 45 advanced general hospitals. Vice Minister Park asked the hospital community, "Please make efforts to ensure that no medical gaps occur for patient safety and that medical sites faithfully perform their original duties as usual and stay by the patients' side."

Meanwhile, the medical community, which had been at odds with the nursing community over the Nursing Act, has begun moves to amend the so-called 'Medical License Revocation Act' (amendment to the Medical Service Act). Since there are six months left until the official enforcement of the Medical License Revocation Act, it is argued that re-amendment should be made beforehand. The Emergency Committee of the Korean Medical Association stated, "A re-amendment bill that removes the unconstitutional aspects of the Medical License Revocation Act and aligns with public sentiment should be prepared and submitted to the National Assembly."

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