Unification Minister: "North Korean Residents Wander Jangmadang Searching for Medicine"

Kim Young-ho, Minister of Unification, pointed out that North Korean residents are turning to jangmadang (markets) instead of hospitals to purchase medicines, indicating that North Korea's economic and social policies are not functioning effectively.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, Minister Kim gave a lecture at the 'Visiting North Story Talk Concert' held at Busan On General Hospital, emphasizing the importance of accurately understanding and communicating the reality of North Korea's substantial changes and preparations for unification.

About 300 people attended the event, including members of the international medical volunteer organization Green Doctors, Busan Forum members, and Busan citizens.

Choi Jung-hoon, a defector medical professional and researcher at Korea University Public Policy Research Institute who participated in the talk concert on North Korea's healthcare, explained, "Due to prolonged economic recession and the spread of unofficial medical practices in jangmadang, free medical treatment has become nominal."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Minister Kim signed a business agreement with On General Hospital to operate the 'Mental Health Center for North Korean Defectors' (hereafter the Center).

Jung Geun, director of On General Hospital Group, operated the inter-Korean cooperation hospital 'Green Doctors Kaesong Hospital' in the Kaesong Industrial Complex from 2005 to 2012, and has been volunteering free medical services for North Korean defectors every Sunday since 2003.

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