Execution of Warrants at Offices of the Korean Medical Association and Seoul Medical Association
Ministry of Health and Welfare Announces Work Commencement Order for 13 Residents
The police began a forced investigation on the 1st into officials of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) who were reported for violations of the Medical Service Act and other charges. This is the first such action since the 'medical crisis' triggered by the mass resignation of resident doctors.
The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been executing search warrants on five current and former KMA executives since the morning of the same day.
Police have launched a forced investigation into officials of the Korean Medical Association who were reported on charges including violation of the Medical Service Act. On the 1st, police controlled the entrance at the Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The officials involved are Kim Taek-woo, Chairman of the KMA Emergency Response Committee (Chairman of the Gangwon Medical Association), Joo Soo-ho, Chairman of the KMA Emergency Committee's Media and Public Relations Committee, Park Myung-ha, Chairman of the Emergency Committee's Organizational Strengthening Committee, Lim Hyun-taek, Chairman of the Korean Pediatric Society, and Roh Hwan-gyu, former KMA President.
The police have dispatched investigators to secure related materials such as mobile phones and PCs from the Emergency Committee office inside the KMA building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the Seoul Medical Association office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, the Gangwon Medical Association office in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and their residences.
This search and seizure follows the Ministry of Health and Welfare's report on the 27th of last month, accusing Kim and four others of violating the Medical Service Act, obstructing business under the Criminal Act, and incitement and aiding and abetting, filed with the National Police Agency.
The Ministry believes that by supporting and legally assisting the residents' collective resignation, they incited and aided the collective action, thereby obstructing the work of the training hospitals to which the residents belong.
The police swiftly initiated the investigation by assigning the case to the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 28th, the day after the report was filed, and conducting the search and seizure within two days.
Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, emphasized at a regular press briefing on the 19th of last month, "When the medical community's collective action is reported to investigative agencies, we will conduct investigations as quickly as possible within the prescribed procedures."
Public notice of work commencement orders for 13 medical residents posted on the Ministry of Health and Welfare website on the 1st. (Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare website)
Meanwhile, the branch publicly notified some of the resident doctors currently engaged in collective action of work commencement orders through its website and other means on the same day.
After delivering the orders via mail, mobile text messages, and home visits, the orders were announced again through public notice, indicating that punishment for residents who have not returned is imminent.
The notice stated, "According to Article 59, Paragraph 2 of the Medical Service Act, a work commencement order must be delivered directly or sent by registered mail to medical personnel who have stopped treatment without justifiable reason. However, due to reasons such as closed doors with no one present and inability to confirm addresses, delivery by hand or mail is difficult, so the order is publicly notified in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act," listing the names, affiliations, and medical license numbers of the individuals concerned.
It further explained, "If the work commencement order is refused without justifiable reason, disciplinary action and criminal prosecution may be taken under the Medical Service Act."
The individuals targeted belong to Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Yonsei Severance Hospital, Konkuk University Hospital, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chosun University Hospital, Bundang CHA Hospital, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, and the Catholic Central Medical Center, totaling 13 people.
The government set March 29 as the deadline for return, stating, "From March, for those who do not return, it is inevitable to proceed with license suspension for at least three months, investigations, prosecutions, and other judicial procedures according to law and principles."
Accordingly, administrative and legal penalties are expected to intensify starting from March 4, after the March 1st holiday weekend.
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