The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has launched a Presidential Election Planning Headquarters, aiming to address issues in the medical sector leading up to the presidential election on June 3. The launch event was held on the 13th at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, with Min Bok-ki, President of the Daegu Medical Association, appointed as the head of this new division.
The headquarters is tasked with ensuring that the voices and concerns of the medical community are reflected in the election process. KMA President Kim Taek-woo emphasized that the planning headquarters would gather and integrate opinions on healthcare-related pledges from various medical fields and regions. The goal is to have these concerns adopted as formal pledges by the political parties.
The medical community has stressed the need for a platform to discuss and normalize medical issues. President Kim urged the government to quickly establish a forum for dialogue, to resolve existing challenges and support the return of medical students and residents to their respective fields.
On the same day, alongside the inauguration of the planning headquarters, a national assembly of medical representatives was held, where resolutions were adopted demanding the dissolution of the Presidential Medical Reform Special Committee, adjustments to medical school quotas, and other measures. The resolutions called for establishing an official platform to discuss medical community proposals and issuing apologies to medical students and residents. Additionally, suggestions for adjusting admission quotas were directed to the Ministry of Education.