Controversy Over Forced Closure of Seoul Baek Hospital Moves to Court... Faculty and Staff File Injunction Request

24 Professors and 240 Staff Join Lawsuit
2km Walking Event from Seoul Baek Hospital to Baek Inje House

Staff members of Seoul Baek Hospital have filed an injunction request to suspend the effectiveness of the board of directors' decision to close the hospital.

On the afternoon of the 4th, participants are shouting slogans in front of the entrance of Seoul Baek Hospital in Jung-gu, Seoul, ahead of the "Baek In-je House Walking Rally and Press Conference to Inherit the Spirit of Dr. Baek In-je and Prevent the Closure of Seoul Baek Hospital."
[Photo by Lee Myung-hwan]

Professor Cho Young-kyu, president of the Seoul Baek Hospital Professors' Association, stated on the afternoon of the 4th at a press conference and walking event held in front of the Gahoe-dong Community Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, titled "Walking Event and Press Conference to Inherit the Spirit of Dr. Baek In-je and Prevent the Closure of Seoul Baek Hospital," "We have prepared an injunction request to suspend the effectiveness of the closure decision of Seoul Baek Hospital with the help of our lawyer. The application was submitted this afternoon (the 4th)."

It is reported that a total of 264 people are participating in the lawsuit, including 24 professors affiliated with Seoul Baek Hospital, nurses, and administrative staff. The legal representatives appointed are Attorney Yoo Ji-won from the law firm Goyu and Attorney Kim Hyun-kwon from the law firm LKB & Partners.

Professor Cho explained, "The corporation's decision to close the hospital is invalid as it violates the Private School Act and the articles of incorporation," and added, "The injunction request also specifies that transferring employees to Busan is against the Labor Standards Act." However, he mentioned that detailed information about the lawsuit will be disclosed later.

Members of Seoul Baek Hospital expressed their determination to prevent the closure in response to the board's unilateral notification. Professor Jang Yeo-gu, head of the Seoul Baek Hospital branch of the Inje Medical School Professors' Union, said, "We promise to do our best until the end to protect the hospital, which holds the history cherished by our predecessors, against the corporation that is forcing the closure while ignoring this legacy." Professor Cho also urged, "The corporation fears only two things: collective action by employees and legal lawsuits. We will do our best with urgency until the very last moment."

Earlier, on June 20, Inje Foundation held a board meeting at Baek Hospital building in Jung-gu, Seoul, and passed the 'Seoul Baek Hospital Closure Plan' proposed by the Management Normalization Task Force. The Inje Foundation stated, "We received management consulting from an external professional institution and analyzed and discussed all alternatives, including maintaining the hospital, converting it into a specialized hospital, operating a screening center and outpatient center, and a nursing hospital, but concluded that none were effective."

Following the passage of the closure plan, the board informed staff and patients that medical services would be provided only until the 31st of this month. Seoul Baek Hospital announced on the 7th of last month, "After gathering opinions from affiliated hospitals and internal discussions, it was decided to end all medical services by August 31." However, the professors' union claims that the board never went through a process of gathering opinions.

In accordance with the decision to end medical services, the hospital plans to inform outpatients, inpatients, and patients with reservations about the closure date and related procedures for medical care and document issuance, and support the transfer of inpatients to other hospitals. It is reported that Seoul Baek Hospital staff, excluding doctors, will be transferred to two locations?Busan Baek Hospital and Haeundae Baek Hospital?effective September 1, after the closure.

The press conference was held immediately after a walking event by Seoul Baek Hospital staff. The staff participating in the walking event marched about 2 km from Seoul Baek Hospital to Baek In-je House, named after Dr. Baek In-je, the hospital’s founder, starting at 5 p.m. The march took place in extremely hot weather, with a heatwave warning issued, and one staff member fainted from the heat near the end of the press conference.

On the afternoon of the 4th, participants are shouting slogans at the 'Baek In-je Doctor Spirit Inheritance and Seoul Baek Hospital Closure Prevention Baek In-je House Walking Contest and Press Conference' held at the Gahoe-dong Community Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Lee Myung-hwan]