(LEAD) Major doctors’ group votes to impeach embattled chief amid prolonged walkout
(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 4 paras)
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) — The largest South Korean doctors’ advocacy group voted Sunday to impeach its chief, holding him responsible for poor responses to a prolonged walkout by junior doctors and various other controversies.
During an emergency assembly of representatives, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) decided to impeach Lim Hyun-taek after holding a vote of confidence and approved the formation of an emergency committee.
Lim Hyun-taek, chief of the Korean Medical Association, moves through a group of reporters after an emergency meeting of representatives in Seoul on Nov. 10, 2024. (Yonhap)
Lim took office in March, a month after thousands of trainee doctors began leaving their workplaces in protest of the government’s decision to raise the medical school quota by around 2,000 annually for the next five years or so to address a shortage of doctors.
But the hard-liner chief has faced criticism for failing to play a role in resolving the walkout and making improper comments on the current health care service disruptions.
The impeachment is expected to help make progress in talks between the government and the medical community in hopes of a breakthrough, according to some officials.
The KMA said it plans to hold a by-election to elect a new chief in 60 days.
The ruling People Power Party aims to launch a consultative body with the main opposition party, the government and doctors on Monday to resolve the prolonged walkout. The KMA has adhered to the stance that it will not participate in the consultative body.
Park Dan, chief of an emergency response group for striking training doctors, welcomed the KMA’s decision to impeach Lim.
“Eventually, everything is on the right path,” Park wrote on his Facebook page.
Park has openly called for Lim to step down, insisting that Lim does not represent trainee doctors and medical school students.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
