Civic Group Files Complaint Against Korean Medical Association for 'Document Shredding'... Accused of Evidence Tampering Instruction

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has been reported by a civic group for mass disposal of internal documents following a police search and seizure.

The Committee for the Protection of the Common People’s Livelihood (Seominwi) submitted a complaint to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency around 2:30 p.m. on the 5th against Kim Taek-woo, Chairman of the KMA Emergency Response Committee, Joo Soo-ho, Chairman of the Emergency Committee’s Media and Public Relations, Park Myung-ha, Chairman of the Emergency Committee’s Organizational Strengthening, and former KMA President Roh Hwan-gyu.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Before submitting the complaint, Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary General of Seominwi, explained the background of the report, saying, "It is understood that the documents were taken out by the KMA for shredding," and added, "The investigation agency must be requested to accurately identify what kind of documents these are."

Kim also stated, "In a situation where conflicts between the government and medical organizations are escalating, both ruling and opposition parties should work toward resolving the issue," and claimed, "The KMA’s disposal of numerous documents through a secure document shredding company constitutes an instigation of evidence destruction."

Earlier, a KMA official explained on the 4th that the request for mass document disposal to a secure document shredding company was "a routine disposal of expired documents by the Academic Department and the Appraisal Team," and denied any connection to the Emergency Response Committee.