Resident Representative "Regret Over Medical Association President... Must Not Repeat 2020 Mistakes"

"Refusal to Join Pan-Medical Community Council... Further Dialogue with Government Also Meaningless"
During Previous Medical Dispute, KMA President Agreed with Government Despite Residents' Opposition

Park Dan, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association, expressed regret to Lim Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), and emphasized that he hopes Lim will not follow the footsteps of the KMA president during the 2020 medical policy conflict.

Park Dan, Emergency Response Committee Chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 19th, Chairman Park stated through his personal SNS (social networking service), "I express my regret to President Lim Hyun-taek (KMA) in many ways." He added, "I have not heard about the joint chairmanship of the pan-medical community countermeasure committee. Even if a pan-medical community consultative body is formed under the current circumstances, the Korean Intern Resident Association has consistently expressed its position not to participate." He continued, "I clearly stated that if unagreed matters are mentioned in the media, I will draw a line. It is very regrettable that such wasteful remarks are being exchanged within the medical community at this time."

He went on, "The indefinite strike announced yesterday (the 18th) was unilaterally declared without consulting the KMA General Assembly or the city and provincial medical associations. I hope Lim Hyun-taek, President of the KMA, will be more cautious in making public statements to the media and others," he added.

He also stated that residents will not engage in dialogue without a change in the government’s position. He said, "What the resigning residents want is clear. If the government wants the resigned residents to return, it should talk to the residents." He added, "However, they have already entered Yongsan and even met President Yoon Seok-yeol. We have talked enough. Without a change in the government’s stance, further dialogue is considered meaningless."

The seven demands announced by the Korean Intern Resident Association in February are ▲ complete cancellation of the medical school expansion plan and essential medical policy package ▲ establishment of a scientific physician supply and demand forecasting organization ▲ expansion of specialist recruitment at training hospitals ▲ legal burden relief for unavoidable medical accidents ▲ improvement of resident training environments ▲ complete withdrawal of unfair orders to residents ▲ complete abolition of work commencement orders.

He also stated that he could not agree with the three demands announced by the KMA. Chairman Park said, "They are clearly a retreat from the seven demands of the Korean Intern Resident Association and cannot be agreed upon. I hope Lim Hyun-taek, President of the KMA, will not follow the footsteps of former President Choi Dae-jip." Former President Choi Dae-jip was the KMA president during the 2020 medical policy conflict. Despite opposition from residents at the time, former President Choi reached an agreement with the government on September 4 of the same year, ending the situation.

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