Democratic Party Meets with Medical Association and Daejeon Association to Resolve 'Medical Crisis'... Agrees to Hold 'Public Debate' (Comprehensive)

National Assembly-Medical Associations, First Meeting After Yoon Impeachment Motion Passed
Park Jumin "Need to Widely Raise Awareness of Medical Education Difficulties"
Park Dan "Communication Channel Seems Open... Positive"

The Democratic Party of Korea met with medical organizations for the first time since the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, aiming to find solutions to the prolonged medical crisis. After more than an hour of discussion, they decided to hold a 'public debate' involving deans of medical schools and others.

On the afternoon of the 19th, Park Ju-min, a member of the National Assembly and chair of the Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party, said at a meeting held at the Korean Medical Association (KMA) in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, "The medical crisis began with the unilateral and coercive policy implementation by the Yoon administration," adding, "Although many problems were pointed out due to the rushed policy implementation, the government's sincerity to resolve these issues was virtually zero." He emphasized, "I believe it is important to cooperate with each other especially during difficult times." Attending the meeting were Chair Park, Kim Young-ho, chair of the National Assembly Education Committee, Park Hyung-wook, emergency committee chair of the KMA, and Park Dan, emergency committee chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA).

Park Jumin, Chairman of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee (second from the left), is explaining the meeting details after the roundtable held at the Korean Medical Association on the afternoon of the 19th. Photo by Oh Ji-eun

The participants held a closed meeting for 1 hour and 20 minutes. After the meeting, they announced plans to hold a public debate to address the difficulties in university education caused by the increase in medical school admissions. Chair Park said, "We agreed on the need to sufficiently reflect the perspectives from the medical field to solve the problems," adding, "We decided to promote a public debate involving medical school professors and deans, residents, medical students, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Assembly." He also mentioned, "If this situation continues, it is necessary to widely inform the public about the reality that proper medical education will become impossible." Furthermore, the National Assembly and medical organizations pledged to maintain close communication going forward.

Chair Kim explained the specific format of the debate and said they would hold it as soon as possible. He stated, "The day before, the Ministry of Education said at the National Assembly Education Committee that 'even minor adjustments are difficult,'" and explained, "This public debate is to address the Ministry of Education, which does not listen to voices from the field." He continued, "If the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health and Welfare attend the debate, we will frankly discuss what the problems are on the ground," and expressed hope, "We aim to gather wisdom to find solutions to the medical school admission increase issue for the 2025 academic year."

Park Jumin, Chairman of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, is speaking at the meeting between the National Assembly, the Korean Medical Association, and the resident doctors' organizations held at the Korean Medical Association in Seoul on the afternoon of the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Dan, emergency committee chair of KIRA, reflected on the meeting, saying, "Until now, the government has unilaterally pushed policies, making it difficult for our voices to be reflected, but I view positively that there was a channel to convey our position and communicate." Park Hyung-wook, emergency committee chair of the KMA, also said, "The fact that the two chairs visited the KMA and discussed the crisis in medical education and the medical crisis together itself is very meaningful."

Earlier, Park Hyung-wook, emergency committee chair of the KMA, criticized, "The public experienced a short period of emergency martial law, but resident doctors faced medical martial law throughout the year. Seeing a minister who has no interest in education is a first-time experience that is sad and shocking," adding, "If this is left as it is, the crisis in medical education and the medical crisis will become increasingly severe. From next year, it will become impossible to take measures," urging the political sphere to take responsibility.

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