Prime Minister Kim to promote meetings with medical interns and medical student representatives, aiming to end prolonged medical turmoil = South Korea

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok plans to hold direct talks with medical residents and students amid ongoing confusion in the medical field.
The announcement marks the first time that the government has stepped up efforts to quickly resolve the protracted medical dispute. Prime Minister Kim Taek, chairman of the Korean Medical Association, and Han Seongjong, chairman of the Korean Council of Residents, have spoken out.
The government is reportedly considering holding talks with the emergency response committee chairman of the Korean Medical University and emergency response committee chairman of the Korean Medical University Graduate School Student Association, Lee Seong-woo, to discuss pending issues regarding medical care.
"There is a common understanding that there is a need for a meeting, and we are currently adjusting the schedule," he said. Medical officials also confirmed that a meeting with Prime Minister Kim is being planned.
The move comes as the Cabinet members of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, which are the competent authorities for medical trainees and students, have yet to be formally appointed, but the government is calling for an immediate dialogue.
In particular, there is a limited time for interns and medical students to return to the workplace, and there is strong support from both within and outside the medical community that the government and the medical community should open the way for dialogue to begin as soon as possible.
If the meeting is actually held, the main topics of discussion will be the resolution of the long-standing medical conflict and concrete measures for the return of trainees and medical students to the workplace.
Prior to this, at a press conference marking one month since his inauguration on the 3rd, President Lee Jae-myung conveyed the message that "restoring trust" and "dialogue" are important to resolving medical disputes.
This has raised hopes that dialogue between the government and the medical community will accelerate.