Sajik Resident: "Government Has Lost Residents' Trust... Must Stop Lying"

Ryu Ok-hada Former Catholic Central Medical Center Intern Holds Press Conference

Ryu Ok-hada, former intern representative at the Catholic Central Medical Center, protested against the government, urging them to stop lying and questioned whether they have the willingness to engage in dialogue.

Ryu Ok, a resident who resigned, held a press conference in front of the Korea Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon, stating that Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, had attempted to meet with residents. He said, "We will decide our own fate. Does the government have the willingness to talk?" He continued, "The government claims that residents are not willing to talk and that there is no channel for dialogue, so please stop these lies," "The government says 'we will respond to dialogue,' then says 'legal procedures are inevitable,' says 'let's talk,' then says 'we are not a negotiation party.' It is confusing," he explained.

He also announced that he would not attend the dialogue session proposed by Vice Minister Park to the residents that day. Ryu said, "I want to ask whether that dialogue channel is the right one and whether (Vice Minister Park) has the authority to decide. I don't know who we should talk to. The government should tell us the channel," adding, "My friends and I will not go."

He also criticized the government for breaking the medical agreement. He said, "The government has already discarded the first clause of the September 4, 2020 medical agreement, which states 'the medical school quota will not be unilaterally enforced,' like a used rag. The basis of dialogue is trust. The government has already lost the trust of residents and the public," he criticized.

He further urged the government, saying, "Stop the lie that the united medical community is divided," and demanded, "Immediately stop treating residents like criminals and humiliating them."

Regarding the return to hospitals, he said, "Patients are waiting at the hospitals. Guardians are pacing anxiously," and urged, "The government should temporarily set aside its election ambitions and sincerely allow my friends and me to return to hospitals and essential regional medical care."

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