Police Search and Seize Documents from 5 Current and Former Executives of the Korean Medical Association

First Forced Investigation Related to 'Medical Crisis'
Summons Notification on the 6th

On the 21st, amid growing concerns over a medical crisis due to the collective departure of residents, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is answering reporters' questions regarding the medical community's collective action at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The joint briefing was attended by Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, Park Sung-jae, Minister of Justice, and Shin Ja-yong, Deputy Prosecutor General. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The police have launched a compulsory investigation into officials of the Korea Medical Association (KMA) who were reported for violating the Medical Service Act for the first time since the 'medical crisis.' This comes just one day after the government-set deadline for resident doctors to return.

The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency executed search warrants on the offices and residences of five current and former KMA executives on the 1st, including Kim Taek-woo, Chairman of the KMA Emergency Response Committee (Chairman of the Gangwon Medical Association), Joo Soo-ho, Media and Public Relations Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee, Park Myung-ha, Organization Strengthening Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee (Chairman of the Seoul Medical Association), Lim Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Pediatric Society, and Noh Hwan-gyu, former KMA President.

The police dispatched investigators to conduct searches and seizures of mobile phones, PCs, and vehicles at the Emergency Response 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 homes.

The warrant specified that the targets of the search and seizure included "materials related to the promotion and discussion of collective actions by the Korea Medical Association concerning the alleged crimes." Specifically, it is known that the police secured KMA meeting minutes, work logs, protest roadmaps, and guidelines related to collective actions. The search, which began around 9:30 a.m., lasted approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes until around 5 p.m., was conducted in the presence of lawyers, and there were no significant conflicts.

This compulsory investigation 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 government views these individuals as having incited and aided collective actions by supporting and legally assisting the mass resignation of resident doctors. Consequently, it judges that they obstructed the operations of training hospitals where the residents are affiliated.

The police swiftly initiated the investigation by assigning the case to the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency the day after the report was received on the 28th of last month, and conducted the search and seizure within two days. Although rumors circulated within the medical community that Lim Hyun-taek was arrested by the police, it was confirmed that no one was detained or arrested on that day.

With the police investigation progressing rapidly, including the search and seizure followed by summons requests, interpretations are emerging that the government's 'principled response' to the doctors' collective actions is now being fully implemented.

The government requested resident doctors to return to work by the 29th of last month, stating, "From March, license suspension and judicial procedures will be inevitable for those who do not return."

It is expected that the Ministry of Health and Welfare will identify the number of non-returnees starting from the 4th, after the March 1st holiday, and report them to the police, who will then initiate formal investigation procedures by immediately sending summons to the accused.