Notices

The Medical Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union (KPTU), headed by Park Kyung-deuk, has published a 20-year history documenting the development of the hospital labor movement to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its founding.

The Medical Solidarity Headquarters held its 20th anniversary ceremony on the afternoon of September 1 at CJ Hall in the main building of Seoul National University Hospital. Union members, members who participated in the organization’s early years, and representatives from labor and civil society organizations attended the event. Over the past two decades, the organization has focused on major issues including strengthening public healthcare, opposing the privatization of healthcare, expanding fundamental labor rights, addressing the problems faced by non-regular workers, increasing hospital staffing, and opposing performance-based pay systems.

Prior to the anniversary ceremony, a book concert was held to celebrate the publication of Twenty Years of the Medical Solidarity Headquarters: Toward Public Healthcare and Public Care. The book covers not only the 20 years since the Medical Solidarity Headquarters was established in 2006, but also the broader 40-year history of the hospital labor movement dating back to 1987. The organization explained that it chose to cover this 40-year period in order to place its current activities within the broader historical development of the hospital labor movement.

Approximately one-third of the book is devoted to oral histories documenting the experiences of activists who participated in the movement. The book talk began with remarks on the publication by Lee Hyang-chun, chair of the compilation committee; Jung Kyung-won, secretary general of the Labor History Institute Han-nae; and Kim Hye-jin, a standing executive committee member of the Korean Alliance against Precarious Work. Park Kyung-deuk, head of the Medical Solidarity Headquarters; Hyun Jung-hee, chair of its Policy Committee; and Kim Chang-gyu, head of its Gyeongbuk Regional Branch, then shared their reflections on the establishment of the Medical Solidarity Headquarters, changes in its organizational structure, and its major activities over the years.

The event also highlighted the organization’s transition from enterprise-based unions to a regional branch structure. Park Kyung-deuk explained, “We pursued the transition to a regional branch structure with the aim of moving beyond union activities centered on individual workplaces and creating an organization in which workers throughout each region could act together.”

The anniversary ceremony that followed featured commemorative remarks by Park, as well as congratulatory speeches by Eom Gil-yong, president of the KPTU, and Lee Sang-yoon, co-representative of the Association of Healthcare and Medical Organizations. An awards ceremony was also held for the “Medical Solidarity Headquarters Solidarity Culture Awards,” a contest involving union members. A total of 16 participants received awards, including one grand prize, four gold prizes, and 11 silver prizes.

The venue also featured a photo exhibition documenting the Medical Solidarity Headquarters’ activities over the past 20 years, along with an exhibition of the award-winning entries from the contest. Separate exhibits commemorated the late Lee Jung-mi, who worked to organize workers at small and medium-sized hospitals and clinics, and the late Yoon Hee-wang, who worked to advance disability rights and the labor rights of personal assistance workers.

By Woo Da-young

Published: September 2, 2026, 6:30 a.m.

woody@labortoday.co.kr

Source: Maeil Labor News