Government: "KMA should withdraw strike and resolve through dialogue"

"Please Come to the Conversation Table"

The government appealed to the Korea Medical Association (KMA), which has announced an indefinite strike starting from the 27th, to withdraw the strike decision and resolve the issue through dialogue with the government.

On the morning of the 20th, the image of Lee Han-kyung, Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting during the doctors' collective action, is displayed on the screen in the situation room of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Kim Guk-il, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated this during a briefing held after the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on doctors' collective action on the 20th. Director Kim said, "The government is ready to engage in dialogue with the medical community at any time, regardless of form or agenda," and added, "We hope that the medical associations will come to the table for dialogue to resolve the issues rationally."

He also expressed gratitude to doctors who are not participating in the strike. He said, "Although the KMA forcibly carried out a collective refusal of treatment on the 18th, only about 14.9% of clinics actually participated, and most doctors have remained at their posts," and added, "Even though the KMA has announced an indefinite strike again, I believe that doctors will continue to stay by the patients' side as they have been."

He continued, "Despite some medical school professors announcing a collective strike, most professors are also staying by the patients' side," and said, "I deeply appreciate the efforts and dedication of the medical staff who are protecting patients' lives and maintaining medical sites without being swayed by surrounding circumstances."

He then said, "We sincerely thank the public who support the government's medical reform despite the inconvenience of medical use that has prolonged for over 120 days," and added, "The government will prioritize preventing gaps in medical care and will mobilize all government capabilities to maintain an emergency medical system."

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