When the government placed its plan to establish a primary care system based on "small living zones" on the table, the medical community pushed back, arguing it would restrict patients' right to choose their treatment providers and undermine primary care institutions. Although the government issued explanations, doctors' distrust has not subsided. Where did this tangled mess begin?
The Special Committee on Medical Systems for a Super-Aged Society, under the Medical Innovation Committee—a consultative body affiliated with Choi Geun (Prime Minister)—discussed the plan to build a primary care system based on "small living zones" while drafting the "Recommendations for Establishing a Preventive Healthcare System for a Super-Aged Society." A "small living zone" refers to a geographic unit where residents conduct their daily lives, sharing physical and social environments and local resources. Typically, its scope is set around administrative districts with populations of 20,000 to 50,000 people.
Doctors reacted strongly upon learning that the recommendations would include small living zones. They suspected the government intended to restrict patients to using only medical institutions near their residences. The Korean Association of Internal Medicine emphasized, "The reason a patient chooses a specific clinic (a primary care institution) is not solely because it is located near their residence." It added, "Such choices are naturally formed based on complex factors including the type of illness, whether it is acute or chronic, travel distance and transportation methods, and available consultation hours."
Even some YouTube channels and social media platforms escalated criticism by invoking the January 2024 incident involving President Lee Jae-myung (then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea) being transported by helicopter. Outcries poured in: "How can it be reasonable for someone to fly by helicopter from Busan to Seoul while others are told they can only visit hospitals near their homes?"
As public opinion worsened, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stepped in to clarify, stating, "There has been no consideration whatsoever—and no plans to consider—restricting residents' access to medical care based on administrative districts as small living zones. The inclusion of 'small living zones' in the recommendations is intended to guarantee healthcare access centered on living areas."
However, some YouTubers who are former doctors expressed skepticism, saying it was hard to believe the government's claim that no such consideration had taken place. They recalled the announcement regarding medical school expansion plans. In January 2024, when reports surfaced about a "four-digit increase in medical school admissions," the government denied any fixed scale of expansion. Yet, just days later (February 6), the Ministry of Health and Welfare suddenly announced a plan to expand by 2,000 students. This move triggered mass resignations among resident physicians and collective suspensions by medical students.
Political calculations must not enter healthcare policies directly tied to citizens' health. The right to choose a hospital and the right to seek treatment from any physician are fundamental rights of citizens that no one may infringe upon. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's explanation that "there are no plans to consider" such restrictions is not something doctors or citizens should be grateful for—it is simply what should be expected. Citizens' fundamental rights belong solely to the people, areas where government intervention is impermissible.
in OPINION
