"My Wife First..." Controversy Over Priority Vaccination of Nursing Hospital Director's Family

Chairman's Brother's Wife, Who Quit as Outside Director 10 Years Ago, Also Vaccinated
Outside Directors Not Stationed at Hospital Also Receive Vaccinations

On the 2nd, MBC's 'News Desk' reported that on the 26th of last month, allegations of queue-jumping vaccination arose at a nursing hospital in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by MBC

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Less than a week after the start of COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea, a controversy over 'queue jumping' has erupted.

On the 2nd, MBC's "News Desk" reported that on the 26th of last month, when AstraZeneca vaccinations began, a few unfamiliar people appeared in front of those waiting in line at a nursing hospital in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, and 'jumped the queue' to get vaccinated.

According to the report, only one woman among the unfamiliar queue jumpers was identified, and she was the wife of the hospital director's younger brother.

Jang, the director's younger brother, is in charge of management, and although his wife was not eligible for vaccination, she was arranged to receive the vaccine.

Currently, only patients and staff of nursing hospitals are classified as priority recipients for vaccination.

An informant who witnessed this told MBC, "The staff all knew each other's faces well, but suddenly a group of three or four people came and crossed in front of those already in line to get vaccinated first."

In response, the hospital stated, "There is no problem because Jang's wife is an outside director of the hospital."

However, it was confirmed that Jang's wife had already resigned as an outside director 10 years ago.

Then the hospital explained, "She was vaccinated in advance because she was scheduled to be registered as an auditor."

Jang said, "There was talk around mid-month that one auditor would resign," adding, "I planned to register my wife after that, so I had her vaccinated in advance."

Moreover, it was revealed that outside directors who do not reside at the hospital also received the vaccine.

The hospital claimed that outside directors are also hospital staff and that there is no administrative issue.

However, since many frontline medical personnel have yet to be vaccinated, criticism continues regarding these sneaky vaccinations.

The city office responsible for oversight stated that it is a matter for the health center to verify.

The Dongducheon Health Center in charge said it was difficult to verify because the hospital's submitted list did not include job titles.

According to the revised Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act effective from the 26th of last month, anyone who receives COVID-19 vaccination earlier than others by false or fraudulent means may be fined up to 2 million won.