SEOUL — President Yoon Suk Yeol has directed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to enhance dialogue with the medical community concerning the government's contentious medical reform initiatives. This directive comes as junior doctors continue a month-long strike protesting the proposed increase in medical school admissions.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the instruction was given during the president's weekly meeting with Prime Minister Han at the presidential office. The protests by thousands of junior doctors have been primarily against the government's plan to expand medical school admissions by 2,000 seats starting next year.
The president has emphasized the need for the prime minister to engage more closely with various sectors of society, particularly the medical community, to address the ongoing dispute. This comes after Yoon suggested the prime minister explore "flexible" approaches to manage the suspension of medical licenses, a measure expected to be implemented against protesting doctors starting Tuesday.
Additionally, President Yoon tasked Prime Minister Han with ensuring the proper management of the upcoming April 10 parliamentary elections, highlighting the importance of assisting individuals with mobility issues in reaching polling stations.
Meetings between Prime Minister Han and representatives from the medical community are scheduled to take place as early as Tuesday. A high-ranking government official, who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that a platform for dialogue is expected to be established by no later than the end of the week, aiming to resolve the standoff and restore normalcy to the healthcare sector.
SEOUL — People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon on Monday described prospective negotiations between the government and medical professors as a potential turning point in ending the ongoing strike by junior doctors. This comes in light of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent directive for "constructive dialogue" and a more "flexible" approach towards the suspension of striking doctors' licenses.According to Yonhap News Agency, President Yoon’s call for dialogue followed Han's private discussion with a group of medical professors, aiming to explore dialogue avenues amid a stagnant situation in the junior doctors' strike. The strike, which opposes the government's proposal to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 from next year, has entered its sixth week, intensifying as medical professors show solidarity through resignations and reduced work hours.
Han conveyed that during a meeting on Sunday, medical professors requested that the government display leniency regarding the suspension of junior doctors’ licenses. After communicating these concerns to President Yoon, Han stated that the government had acknowledged the need for flexibility. He expressed optimism that this could mark the beginning of a resolution to the ongoing conflict, though he acknowledged the complexities involved in reconciling the differing parties’ positions.
Han, acknowledging the delicate situation, refrained from commenting on potential revisions to the medical admission quota, emphasizing his role in facilitating constructive dialogue rather than proposing directional changes that might lead to confusion. This stance comes amidst criticisms, including those from opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who criticized the PPP's last-minute mediation efforts as potentially politically motivated ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Lee, while campaigning in Changwon, highlighted the inappropriateness of the ruling party’s involvement in what he sees as a governmental issue, urging a focus on the public's health rights, life, and safety rather than political gains.
SEOUL — The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has strongly criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), for his recent comments on South Korea's diplomatic stance towards China and Taiwan. The opposition leader's remarks have sparked controversy amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee advocated for a passive approach to the cross-strait issue during a campaign speech, suggesting that South Korea should simply express gratitude to both China and Taiwan without engaging in the conflict. Lee's comments extended to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, where he suggested that South Korea should also remain uninvolved.
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon refuted Lee's claims that the current government is adopting a hard-line policy toward China. He argued that the approach of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration is not excessively harsh but balanced and in line with national interests. Han criticized the perceived subservience and bias towards China under the previous Moon Jae-in administration and under Lee's propositions.
Han emphasized that South Korea's diplomatic efforts are grounded in national interest and the broader global political context, highlighting the importance of strengthening Korea-U.S. relations. He accused the Democratic Party of maintaining a pro-Chinese and submissive attitude towards China, calling for a reassessment of South Korea's foreign policy objectives.