President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Jeong Eun-kyeong, former commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), to serve as minister of health and welfare.

Jeong vowed to resolve the government-doctor conflict quickly, noting that the public has endured great suffering during the healthcare reform process.

On Sunday, President Lee nominated candidates for six ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The nomination of Jeong as health and welfare minister had been widely expected since Lee's election. A native of Gwangju, Jeong graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine and began her public service career in 1995 when she joined the National Institutes of Health, the predecessor of the KDCA.

In 2015, when Jeong was the head of the Disease Prevention Center, she was at the forefront of the response to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, including briefing the media. However, she was disciplined for her handling of the outbreak, with allegations that she contributed to the spread after the outbreak ended.

However, in 2017, she became the first female head of the KDCA. After leading the government’s combat against Covid-19, which began in 2020, she gained recognition for her work on the front lines of the epidemic and stepped down in May 2022.

After her retirement, Jeong was appointed a clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Seoul National University Hospital and served as one of the co-chairs of the Democratic Party of Korea's Central Election Campaign Committee in the presidential election, supporting then-candidate Lee Jae Myung. After the election, she said she would return to school but was nominated by President Lee to head the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

If confirmed, Jeong will be the first doctor to serve as health and welfare minister in eight years, following Jeong Jin-yeop, and the first female minister in 14 years, succeeding Jin Soo-hee. However, her confirmation will likely face tough questioning about her spouse's alleged stock investment in Covid-19-related stocks.

After her nomination, Jeong revealed her thoughts through the Health and Welfare Ministry.

“I feel a great sense of responsibility to be nominated as the first welfare minister of the new government. Since last year, the public has endured great suffering during the healthcare reform process, and, amid the rapidly falling birthrate, rapidly aging population, and deepening economic polarization, the public's demand for welfare is getting higher and higher."

To address these issues, Jeong stressed that she would create a people-centered healthcare system.

“The government will ensure the right to health by promoting healthcare reform that actively reflects the voices of the people by, for instance, quickly resolving political conflicts through sincere communication and cooperation and enhancing access to healthcare for all by strengthening regional, essential, and public healthcare,” Jeong said.

Jeong stressed that the government would also endeavor to build a health and welfare system that prepares for the future, strengthening socioeconomic adaptability in the era of severe birthrate decline and an ultra-aged society, and actively fostering the biohealth industry as a key driver of Korea's growth.

“Based on the expertise and experience I have gained through my work as the head of the KDCA, I will always listen to and actively communicate with the voices of the National Assembly, experts, the field, and the public to review and prepare policies,” she added.

KMA welcomed Jeong’s nomination as ‘sign’ of Lee’s will to resolve government-doctor conflict

Following the nomination of Jeong as minister, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) expressed its expectation and intention to discuss matters with the government. The nation’s largest doctors’ group said Jeong is the right person to resolve the government-doctor conflict that has dragged on for more than a year and four months.

“We sincerely welcome Jeong’s nomination. It is of great significance that a person who has dedicated herself to overcoming the national crisis will take up the position,” the KMA said in a statement issued later in the day.

In particular, it noted that Jeong expressed her commitment to resolving the conflict. “We deeply share this commitment and will actively work to restore trust and build a cooperative relationship with the government by prioritizing public health.”

Jeong's professionalism, rational demeanor, and deep understanding of public healthcare will “help us overcome the current healthcare crisis,” the organization said.

“As the formation of the new government is in full swing, we will do our best to resolve important issues to protect people's lives and health as soon as possible through close consultation with the National Assembly and government ministries,” the association said.