Chairman of the Medical Association Emergency Committee Undergoes 14-Hour Intense Investigation: "Residents Resigned on Their Own"

Kim Taek-woo, chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), who was accused of instigating collective action by residents, appeared at the police station and was questioned for over 14 hours.

On the 12th, Park Myungha, Chairman of the Organizational Strengthening Committee of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) Emergency Response Committee (left), and Kim Taekwoo, Chairman of the KMA Emergency Response Committee, are entering the Public Crime Investigation Unit building in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Heo Younghan]

The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency summoned and investigated Chairman Kim, Park Myung-ha, chairman of the Emergency Response Committee’s Organizational Strengthening Committee, and Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Society, on the morning of the 12th.

After 14 hours of questioning, around 12:11 a.m. on the 13th, Chairman Kim finished the investigation and told reporters, "I explained why we had no choice but to act this way," adding, "I spoke about how resident doctors resigned and left on their own because they saw no future."

Chairman Park left the investigation earlier, around 10:07 p.m. the previous day. He said, "The government is firmly responding without retreating from the plan to increase the number of residents by 2,000, which is regrettable," and requested, "Please come to the table for dialogue and negotiation."

When appearing at the police station the previous morning, Chairman Kim and others stated, "The voluntary resignation of resident juniors was not incited or instigated by anyone," and added, "As young medical professionals, we are resisting based on our conscience and expert knowledge against the tremendous mismanagement that jeopardizes the long-term future of this country’s healthcare."

Lim, who entered the building earlier than the others, clashed over scheduling issues during the police investigation and ultimately refused to be questioned, leaving after just one hour.

According to Lim’s legal representative, Lim requested to reschedule his appearance to the 13th, but the police insisted on the 12th due to internal guidelines and conflicting investigation schedules of the assigned investigator.

Lim and his legal representative asked the investigator whether there was an investigation scheduled for the 13th, to which the investigator reportedly replied that there was no separate schedule. Lim’s legal representative claimed that during this conversation, police officials made inappropriate remarks and failed to correct them, leading to Lim’s refusal to be questioned. It is reported that Lim’s side is considering exercising the right to remain silent if summoned again.

In response, the police stated, "We cannot accept the criticism of the police investigation based on false information," and expressed "deep regret over the refusal to be questioned after just over an hour."

This summons follows the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s complaint to the National Police Agency on the 27th of last month, accusing five current and former KMA executives of violating the Medical Service Act, obstruction of business under the Criminal Act, instigation, and aiding and abetting. Suh Soo-ho, KMA Emergency Response Committee’s Public Relations Officer, was questioned on the 6th, and former KMA president Roh Hwan-gyu was questioned on the 9th.