Korea Medical Association Organization President Kim Taek-woo proposed on the 23rd that the Ministry of Health and Welfare be split to create a health ministry. The idea is to divide the Ministry of Health and Welfare into a health ministry in charge of health care policy and a welfare ministry solely responsible for social welfare, to raise specialization in each.
President Kim held a press briefing at the association's headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, that day and said, "Current health care policy issues affect the entire public, but conflicts are recurring on each matter as various interests diverge." He added, "With population aging making it difficult to ensure fiscal soundness of welfare finances, a situation in which one ministry carries both (health and welfare) should not continue."
President Kim explained that the presidential office needs a secretary for health care who separately oversees the health care sector. In addition, he takes the position that there is a need to establish the Uiminjeong (a social public deliberation body) committee. The health care community, the public, and the government should participate to discuss national health care policy.
President Kim said, "The health care sector faces a mountain of medium- and long-term tasks," and added, "Just as labor and management respect the conclusions drawn by the Economic, Social and Labor Council, the medical community, the public, the government, and the political sphere should establish a 5- to 10-year plan that all can accept."