Jung Eun-kyeong appointed as the first Minister of Health and Welfare candidate under the Lee Jae-myung government… A test for resolving conflicts between the medical community and the government

Jung Eun-kyeong, former head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, who rose to prominence as a symbol of "K-quarantine" in the national response to COVID-19, has been nominated as the first Minister of Health and Welfare candidate under the Lee Jae-myung government.

If the candidate, who is a physician and infectious disease expert, assumes office, she will be tasked with the significant responsibilities of resolving the ongoing conflict between the government and the medical community that has persisted for over a year and four months since the previous administration's medical school expansion policy, as well as realizing President Lee’s health and welfare pledges, which include strengthening public health and integrated care.

On the 29th, the presidential office’s chief secretary, Kang Hoon-sik, held a briefing and announced that President Lee Jae-myung has nominated Jung Eun-kyeong as the new Minister of Health and Welfare for the new government.

Chief Secretary Kang stated, "The candidate has fully demonstrated her ability to accept policies and communicate effectively during COVID-19," and described her as "a capable individual who can propose solutions while communicating with various sectors even in times of crisis like a medical emergency."

Calm briefing earned public trust… Spouse's stock controversy presents a burden

As the first head of the Disease Control Agency, candidate Jung earned public trust by delivering quarantine policies through national briefings, sometimes up to twice a day, during the national crisis of COVID-19.

In an unprecedented pandemic situation, she solidified her image as a "quarantine commander" through calm and professional explanations. Despite the former administration derogatorily referring to the Moon Jae-in government’s K-quarantine as "political quarantine," the public perception of candidate Jung has generally been positive.

According to Chief Secretary Kang, Jung received numerous recommendations during the public nominations for ministers and participated in the planning of health and medical policies, including the establishment of a public medical school during President Lee's candidacy, which has resulted in a high level of policy understanding evaluation.

However, the recent controversy surrounding her spouse's investment in stocks related to quarantine is a burden. It has been revealed that Jung's spouse invested in companies related to masks, hand sanitizers, and diagnostic kits during the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which were omitted from property declarations, raising suspicions of violations of the Public Service Ethics Act. Jung stated that she would clarify this issue during the confirmation hearing.

Resolving the medical-community conflict is the "first test"… The medical community expresses optimism

If the candidate is appointed as the minister, her top priority will be resolving the conflict between the government and the medical community. The conflict, triggered by the announcement of an increase of 2,000 medical school admissions in February last year, continues to escalate into collective actions by residents and medical students even after a year and four months.

On that day, candidate Jung stated through the Ministry of Health and Welfare, "I will quickly resolve the conflict between the government and the medical community through sincere communication and cooperation." The medical community also expressed optimism.

Kim Taek-woo, president of the Korea Medical Association, remarked, "The candidate is a reasonable individual," and requested, "Please work hard to resolve the essence of the medical crisis as soon as possible." He further emphasized the urgency of creating conditions where medical students can study in a proper educational environment, calling for a proactive attitude from the government.

Candidate Jung returned to the faculty at Seoul National University College of Medicine after the resignation of the former administration, but this nomination has brought her back to public office. During the presidential election, she stated, "I will return to the university when the regime changes," indicating a reluctance to enter politics, but it is reported that she accepted the ministerial position due to repeated requests from the new government.

Image source: News1