[비즈한국] As the medical-government conflict seems likely to drag into next year, the by-election to select the next president to lead the Korean Medical Association (KMA) has been confirmed to take place from January 2 to 4 of next year. Potential candidates include Joo Soo-ho, representative of the Future Medical Forum, Kim Taek-woo, chairman of the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Medical Associations, and Lee Dong-wook, president of the Gyeonggi Medical Association. Both Representative Joo and Chairman Kim received their candidate recommendation forms the previous day, effectively making their bids official. Meanwhile, as the previous election saw two hardline candidates advance to the runoff, which was considered "unusual," the prevailing view is that another hardline candidate is likely to win this time as well.
The KMA Central Election Management Committee announced the '43rd KMA Presidential Election' on the 12th. The election, which is being held following the impeachment of former president Lim Hyun-taek, will proceed over three days starting January 2 of next year, following candidate registration on the 2nd and 3rd of next month. If no candidate secures a majority of votes, a runoff election will be held on the 7th and 8th to determine the winner. In the previous 42nd presidential election, a runoff was indeed held. To register, candidates must receive recommendations from at least 50 voters in each branch, covering at least 5 branches for a total of at least 500 recommending voters.
Discussed candidates include Joo Soo-ho, representative of the Future Medical Forum, Kim Taek-woo, chairman of the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Medical Associations, and Lee Dong-wook, president of the Gyeonggi Medical Association. Among them, Representative Joo and Chairman Kim are the two who have received recommendation forms from the election committee, effectively formalizing their candidacy. Representative Joo also ran as a candidate in the 42nd KMA presidential election. This is Chairman Kim’s first bid, while Chairman Lee previously ran in the 41st presidential election. Park Myung-ha, former president of the Seoul Medical Association, who was initially mentioned as a potential candidate, announced that he would not run.
Joo Soo-ho, representative of the Future Medical Forum, was born in 1958 and is a surgical specialist who graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine. He served as the 35th KMA president and worked as the KMA’s public relations committee chair until earlier this year. Known for his extensive experience in association affairs, Representative Joo advanced to the runoff in the last election despite controversies such as a drunk driving incident. At the time, he campaigned on promises including the abolition of the mandatory medical institution designation system and the implementation of a collective contract system, improving public health by eradicating pseudoscience, and protecting the majority of decent doctors through strong self-purification movements.
Representative Joo reportedly stated in a recent internal notice to the Future Medical Forum, "After much deliberation and consultation with those around me, I have decided to run in the by-election, despite my many shortcomings. It would mean a lot if you could watch over me and provide your encouragement." On his Facebook page the previous day, he wrote, "At a time when the Korean medical community is facing all sorts of internal and external criticism and blame, we need a bold, experienced, boss-style leader who will not give up or collapse even if they are broken and bleeding, but rather present a vision for the future, unite members as one, and take the lead in breaking through this crisis."
Kim Taek-woo, chairman of the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Medical Associations, is a surgical specialist who graduated from Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine. He served as the 39th and 40th president of the Gangwon Medical Association and as the chair of the KMA Emergency Response Committee. During the separation of prescribing and dispensing of medicine, he was a member of the Gangwon Medical Reform Struggle Committee and was involved in activities such as submitting a petition condemning the push for the Nursing Act. After the government announced an increase in medical school admissions, he led the KMA as chair of the emergency committee until the inauguration of former president Lim’s administration. At the time, he drew public criticism for remarking, "We strongly warn that if even a single doctor suffers any disadvantage related to their license in connection with this situation, we will regard it as a direct challenge to doctors and may take actions that will be difficult to handle."
Lee Dong-wook, president of the Gyeonggi Medical Association, who is reportedly contemplating a run, was born in 1971 and is an obstetrician and gynecologist who graduated from Kyungpook National University College of Medicine. He recently ran for KMA emergency committee chair. For the past 10 months, Chairman Lee has been holding rallies, marches, and protests on the president's commute route every Saturday with resident doctors. When running for the emergency committee chair, he appealed to the fact that he has been actively supporting residents, stating, "The Gyeonggi Medical Association began boldly helping residents through a mentor-mentee program at a time when the medical community was afraid to do so." He placed third in that election with 15.02% of the vote.
This election is highly likely to become a two-way race between Joo Soo-ho, representative of the Future Medical Forum, and Kim Taek-woo, chairman of the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Medical Associations. Park Myung-ha, former president of the Seoul Medical Association, who was known to be considering his candidacy until the end, will not be running. In a phone call with BizHankook, former President Park stated, "I am not running," and added, "Is there a specific reason to do something if I'm not?"
Inside and outside the medical community, the odds of Chairman Kim Taek-woo's election are considered higher. This is because Chairman Kim has been actively communicating with Park Dan, head of the Korean Intern Resident Association's emergency committee, since his time as KMA emergency committee chair. A medical community insider noted, "I understand that Park Dan originally supported Representative Joo Soo-ho, but has recently been pushing for Chairman Kim Taek-woo. It seems likely that Park will express his support for a candidate in the by-election in some way, just as he did in the last emergency committee chair election. He is definitely not the type to just let things slide."