Dr. Lee Cook-jong among top public picks for health minister

Amid the prolonged healthcare turmoil now in its second year, the appointment of a new minister of health and welfare seems to have attracted the public’s attention.

Through the "public recommendation system" introduced by President Lee Jae-myung, people from the medical community are being considered as the first minister of health and welfare under the Lee administration.

Political figures, including Jeong Eun-kyeong, the former commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Reps. Jeon Hyun-hee, Nam In-soon, and Kim Yoon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are among the candidates for the position of health welfare minister.

Among both current and former physicians, Lee Cook-jong, the head of the Armed Forces War Hospital, and Rep. Kang Cheong-hee, the chair of the DPK’s special committee on healthcare, also received public recommendations.

According to the Presidential Office, 11,324 recommendations were received on the first day of the public nomination system for candidates for high-level posts, such as cabinet ministers and vice ministers. The health-welfare minister's post received the second-highest number of recommendations. The top spot went to the justice minister and the third to the prosecutor general.

Lee Cook-jong was confirmed to have been recommended by the Busan Medical Association. Lee gained attention for treating Captain Seok Hae-gyun, who was shot during Operation Dawn of the Gulf of Aden in 2011. Lee has also served as the head of the Regional Trauma Center at Ajou University Hospital and has gained sympathy from the medical community for his poignant criticism of the current state of Korean healthcare.

“We recommend Lee as a candidate for minister of health and welfare who can normalize the Korean healthcare system and medical education and solve local and essential healthcare problems shared by the entire world,” the Busan Medical Association said in a recommendation letter submitted on Wednesday.

The association continued, “A person with a wealth of experience and a strong sense of mission, rather than a mere administrative practitioner, should be in charge. To truly normalize and develop Korean healthcare, we hope the President will appoint Lee as the next minister of health and welfare.”

Kang Cheong-hee, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, has been recommended by supporters in Seoul's Gangnam-gu district, where he has served as the district’s DPK chapter head. Kang even came forward for self-promotion, posting a message on his Facebook page that detailed how the electorate could recommend him for the post.

“Based on the knowledge and insights I have accumulated through my rich experience in the medical field and health administration, including as a full-time vice president of the Korean Medical Association, a full-time director of reimbursement at the National Health Insurance Service, and the head of the Korea Public Tissue Bank, I will resolve medical issues and develop welfare policies that prepare for the future,” Kang said.

While candidates with medical backgrounds are being touted as health and welfare ministers, others say a broader view is necessary as the position encompasses the entire health and welfare sector.

Rep. Lee Ju-young of the New Reform Party appeared on a YTN Radio news show earlier in the day and commented on Dr. Lee Cook-jong, who was recommended by the public.

“Dr. Lee is excellent and has a good aptitude and passion for Korea's emergency medical system, especially the military medical system.” Rep. Lee said. “However, there will be good people in other areas as well, as we need to encompass the entire health and welfare system.”

“Other candidates are emerging, so I hope that wise appointments will be made according to the most urgent issues at the moment,” she added.

The public recommendation system is part of the Lee Jae-myung administration’s talent recruitment process. When appointing key positions, the recommended talent information will be entered into the national talent database and verified by the Office of the Secretary of Public Service and Discipline. The system will run until next Monday.