Nursing Act scrapped in revote after president’s veto

The National Assembly on Tuesday voted down the controversial Nursing Act that was put up for a revote after President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed the legislation earlier this month.

The act was rejected in a 178107 vote with four abstentions, and scrapped. A vetoed bill requires two-thirds approval to override the presidential veto, which means that at least 193 lawmakers should have voted for it in order for it to pass.

The result had been widely expected because the ruling People Power Party currently holds 113 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.

Yoon exercised his veto power against the bill railroaded by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, saying the legislation causes too much tension among medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses and nursing assistants.