During the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee hearing, key issues included the persistent problem of nursing workplace bullying and the government's recent push to officially introduce the abortion medication Mifepristone.
Lawmakers from both parties focused on the harsh working conditions that drive young nurses to despair and the legislative gap surrounding abortion that has persisted for seven years. Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong promised fundamental reforms and measures to address these issues.
The most pressing topic during the morning session was the issue of nursing bullying. Known as 'taeum,' this practice involves senior nurses bullying their junior counterparts under the guise of training. Tragic incidents involving new nurses resorting to extreme measures have continued, following similar cases at Asan Medical Center in 2018 and Seoul Medical Center in 2019.
Lee Soo-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former nurse, specifically referenced the recent death of nurse Kang Soo-bin at the Chamjoeun Hospital in Gwangju and a bullying incident involving a nurse at Seoul Medical Center. According to Lee, Kang, who started working in the emergency room, faced harassment from senior nurses, leading her to resign and attempt suicide, resulting in her hospitalization. Despite the Ministry of Employment and Labor officially recognizing workplace bullying and issuing corrective orders, the hospital used a labor consulting firm's conclusion of 'no bullying' as a shield, failing to issue any apology, and the victim ultimately passed away.
Concerns were also raised about Seoul Medical Center, where a committee on workplace bullying reportedly excluded the complainant and employee-recommended members, leading to a conclusion of 'no bullying.' Lee stated, "Taeum is not an individual issue but stems from chronic overwork and a lack of staffing. The Ministry of Health and Welfare must establish guidelines for investigations that include balanced participation from labor, management, and experts, and quickly implement appropriate staffing standards and dedicated nursing education systems."
In response, Minister Jeong agreed that nursing bullying is rooted in a distorted organizational culture and poor working conditions. She stated, "I fully agree that this is not an individual issue but a structural problem. We will work with the Ministry of Labor to refine the bullying investigation process and expedite the establishment of legally mandated staffing standards for nurses, along with comprehensive measures that include expanding dedicated nursing education."
The government recently announced a joint initiative to introduce Mifepristone, revealing stark differences in perspectives between the ruling and opposition parties. Following the Constitutional Court's decision in April 2019 declaring the abortion law unconstitutional, legislative delays have led to issues of illegal distribution and drug misuse.
Democratic Party lawmaker Nam In-soon emphasized the need to ensure safe and accessible use of Mifepristone. She noted that there are 55 local governments in South Korea with either no obstetricians or only one, and that 74.5% of obstetrician clinics are non-hospital clinics. Nam argued, "To eliminate unnecessary barriers as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), we should not mandate in-hospital administration or observation uniformly, and we should actively consider health insurance coverage through the Minister's authority to reduce the financial burden on patients."
Conversely, People Power Party lawmaker Jo Bae-sook advocated for caution, citing legal contradictions and the risks associated with the drug. She pointed out, "The Constitutional Court's intent was to harmonize fetal rights and women's autonomy, but current laws still do not address medical abortion." Jo added, "Given the serious risks of incomplete miscarriages and other side effects, administrative actions without prior institutional safeguards, such as bridge clinical trials and safety management systems tailored to the physical characteristics of Korean women, are out of order."
Minister Jeong expressed regret over the prolonged legislative delays following the Constitutional Court's ruling, which have created a legislative vacuum. She stated, "We are concerned about the serious threats to women's health due to illegal purchases and counterfeit drugs, which is why we are proactively reviewing the approval process."
She concluded, "Whether through medication or surgery, safety management is essential. We will work with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to establish safe administration and management guidelines, and the government will actively participate in discussions on amending the Criminal Code and the Mother and Child Health Act in the National Assembly."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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