Kim Yong-tae, the Emergency Measures Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, continues his efforts to resolve medical disputes through meetings with resident doctors. In a recent discussion with resident doctors and medical students, Chairman Kim proposed a plan for a joint apology to the public. This is a new approach to resolving medical disputes by having the People Power Party and the medical community apologize to the public together.
The discussion, held on the 22nd under the auspices of the Korean Health Policy School, was attended primarily by resident doctors and medical students of a rational disposition. Together with Chairman Kim, they discussed ways for resident doctors and medical students to return quickly. They agreed to form a task force with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Welfare and create a dialogue channel.
Chairman Kim apologized for the unilateral and inflexible aspects of the important health policies pursued by the People Power Party when it was the ruling party, and proposed that the medical community apologize for not being able to take care of patients on the medical front. This was suggested as a way to improve public opinion and resolve medical disputes.
Following this discussion, Park Dan, the representative of the resident doctors, who had been sticking to a hardline stance, suddenly announced his resignation. This is interpreted as internal opposition within the resident doctors’ organization and political contact leading to Chairman Park’s resignation after the discussion with Chairman Kim. With the launch of a new leadership, it is expected that negotiations with the government will proceed. Already, several resident doctor organizations have proposed dialogue with the Lee Jae-myung government. These movements seem to be opening a new phase in resolving the medical dispute.