[Ajou University Hospital Report] Embarrassment, Gloom, Frustration... "Finally, What Was Bound to Explode Has Exploded"

Conflict Erupts at Trauma Center... Visiting Suwon Ajou University Hospital

On the 16th, the Gyeonggi Southern Regional Trauma Center located within Ajou University Hospital in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jo Hyun-ui

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 16th, the Gyeonggi Southern Regional Trauma Center located within Ajou University Hospital in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, was bustling with guardians visiting patients from early morning. Despite the escalating conflict between Professor Lee Guk-jong, head of the Regional Trauma Center at Ajou University Hospital, and the hospital, the center was operating urgently to save emergency patients fighting for their lives. On the television installed next to the entrance door of the patient treatment area, a restricted access zone, a video showcasing Professor Lee’s achievements was being broadcast. A guardian speaking in a North Korean dialect whispered to her husband, "That doctor is the one who saved a defector soldier who was shot."

The medical staff met at the center were very reserved about the current situation. Most of them waved their hands hastily and left as soon as Lee’s name was mentioned. Medical staff member A said, "It is burdensome to have the media continuously reporting about our center," showing a sensitive reaction.

On the 16th, the consultation timetable of the Gyeonggi Southern Regional Trauma Center located within Ajou University Hospital in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi. Photo by Cho Hyun-ui

◆ "Understanding Lee Guk-jong’s feelings" vs "Making things noisy" = The atmosphere was quite different in the main hospital building next to the center. Medical staff gathered in small groups in the basement first-floor convenience area, unable to hide their bitter feelings. Medical staff member B raised their voice, saying, "As a member of the same hospital, I feel disillusioned by Director Yoo Hee-seok’s verbal abuse toward Professor Lee Guk-jong." He added, "Even if it happened years ago, Director Yoo should apologize to the center director," and expressed frustration over the ongoing power abuse controversy.

The Ajou University College of Medicine Faculty Association publicly demanded Director Yoo’s immediate resignation and an apology to all professors that day. In a statement sent to hospital medical staff, the faculty association stated, "Verbal violence is an act that no one should commit regardless of the motive or underlying conflicts of the incident."

Inside the hospital, there was generally agreement with the faculty association’s stance. Some professors reportedly testified, "I have also been verbally abused by Director Yoo." There were also opinions that Professor Lee’s public conflict over the trauma center’s staffing budget was excessive. Medical staff member D said, "I was quite surprised to see Professor Lee’s resolute remarks at last year’s National Assembly audit," shaking their head.

Voices pointing to the government’s shirking of responsibility as the root cause of this scandal also emerged. It was argued that the government shifted the operational responsibility of the regional trauma center, which is difficult to avoid deficits, to private hospitals with profit motives. Medical staff member E said, "The problem is that the government does not operate the regional trauma center directly but entrusts it to private hospitals," adding, "Internal conflicts are inevitable in profit-driven hospitals."

On the 16th, the Gyeonggi Southern Regional Trauma Center located within Ajou University Hospital in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jo Hyun-ui

◆ "This is the time to overhaul trauma center management system," unanimous voices = There were also calls to reform the structure of the regional trauma center, which incurs a 'loss' every time it saves a patient. Medical staff member F said, "The root cause of this conflict is ultimately money," adding, "It is problematic that the budget originally intended to support the trauma center was used for other purposes, but the government must monitor how the budget is spent." He further stated, "It is a realistic solution for public medical institutions to take charge of operating the regional trauma centers."

In fact, according to the 'Regional Trauma Center Profit and Loss Analysis' conducted in 2018 at the request of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, three centers including Ajou University Hospital, Pusan National University Hospital, and Ulsan University Hospital reported an average loss of 1,458,784 KRW per patient from March 2017 to February 2018. The profit margin was -21.2%. Even after accounting for government subsidies, they could not avoid a deficit. Amid this controversy, the government decided to re-examine the profit and loss statements. A Ministry of Health and Welfare official said, "We plan to assess whether additional support is needed and, if so, to what extent."