The Minister of Education and the Minister of Health and Welfare met with the Korean Medical Association (KMA) president to discuss medical issues. This is the first tripartite meeting since doctors began collective action in February of last year in response to the government's medical school expansion policy.
According to the government and the medical community on the 11th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Gyu-hong, and KMA President Kim Taek-woo met in private for about two hours the day before at a location in Seoul. KMA Spokesperson Kim Seong-geun noted, "I heard the atmosphere was good," and said, "We talked about meeting more often in the future."
This meeting took place two days after the KMA requested the government and the National Assembly to create a forum for discussions on medical normalization through a briefing on the 8th. The KMA stated that the government proposed the meeting on the same day.
In the context of the medical conflict, it is the first time that the heads of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the KMA have sat down together, whether officially or unofficially. In January, Deputy Prime Minister Lee and President Kim had a private meeting.
However, there were no specific discussions about future negotiation plans or agendas. KMA Spokesperson Kim explained, "The significance lies in taking the first step in medical dialogue," and noted, "There's a need to consider whether not only the government but also the National Assembly should participate in the discussions."
The KMA plans to promote dialogue with the government while also conducting extracurricular struggles. On the 13th, it will hold a national representative conference and a launch ceremony for the presidential campaign headquarters, followed by a national doctors' rally on the 20th.