Medical Association Vice President Welcomes Impeachment of Former President Yoon Suk-yeol

On April 4, shortly after the Constitutional Court announced the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, Park Dan, Vice President of the Korean Medical Association and representative of the resident doctors, expressed his heartfelt approval of the decision. In a post on Facebook, Park stated, "He (former President Yoon) has faced the judgment of the people."

Park criticized Yoon for his unilateral policy decisions that he claimed jeopardized the future of healthcare in South Korea, stating, "The fear of punishment will never be forgotten." He referenced the emergency martial law declared on December 3, which included a directive mandating all medical professionals, including residents, to return to work within 48 hours or face consequences under martial law.

Reflecting on a meeting he had with Yoon exactly one year prior, Park recalled that it took place 45 days after resident doctors left their posts in response to the government's announcement of an increase in medical school admissions. After a 140-minute discussion, Park had posted on Facebook, "There is no future for healthcare in South Korea."

In his recent post, he reiterated this sentiment, noting, "It has been exactly one year since I visited the presidential office to meet with Yoon Suk-yeol to resolve conflicts between the government and the medical community. The time of waste and hardship must come to an end now." He emphasized that it is time for recovery, urging the current government to immediately halt all healthcare policies implemented unilaterally by Yoon.

Park called for the government to adopt a more flexible and responsible approach to rebuild trust with the medical community, expressing hope for constructive dialogue to resolve the ongoing crisis. He concluded with optimism for a new hope in South Korean healthcare.