Civic Groups File Police Complaint Against Medical Association Emergency Committee and Resigning Residents

A complaint against the Korean Medical Association Emergency Response Committee, which opposes the expansion of medical school quotas, and the residents who collectively resigned has been filed with the police by a civic group.

On the 21st, visitors waiting for medical treatment at a large hospital in Seoul amid ongoing work stoppages following the resignation submissions by residents nationwide, including those at the Big 5 hospitals.
[Photo by Kang Jin-hyung]

The Committee for the Protection of the Common People’s Livelihood (Seominwi) filed a complaint on the morning of the 21st at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against Kim Taek-woo, chairman of the KMA Emergency Response Committee, the executive members, Park Dan, president of the Korean Intern and Resident Association, and the residents of the 'Big 5' hospitals (Seoul National University, Severance, Samsung Seoul, Seoul Asan, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital) who submitted resignation letters and stopped medical services, on eight charges including violation of the Medical Service Act, threats, and coercion.

In the complaint, Seominwi stated, "The most important duty of the accused is to protect the lives and health of the people," and added, "They abandoned this duty with a poorly justified struggle, submitting resignation letters and leaving their workplaces, thereby undermining the foundation of the liberal democratic system and the rule of law."

They continued, "After the first Emergency Response Committee meeting on the 17th, the KMA Emergency Response Committee made inappropriate remarks warning that 'if disadvantages related to medical licenses are imposed, they may resort to actions that are difficult to handle,' thereby threatening and coercing residents to go on strike."