Kim Taek-woo, Chairman of the Korean Medical Association Emergency Committee, Reappears Before Police: "Government and Medical Community Must Work Together"

Officials from the Korean Medical Association (KMA), who were accused of instigating the collective resignation of residents, reappeared before the police on the 15th.

Kim Taek-woo, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Medical Association, is answering reporters' questions as he appears at the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency summoned Kim Taek-woo, the KMA Emergency Committee Chairman, and Lim Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Pediatric Society, for questioning on the morning of the 15th.

At around 9:48 a.m., Kim appeared at the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and stated, "It is the government's responsibility to protect public health, and it is the medical professionals' responsibility to stay by the patients' side. If the medical community and the government put their heads together and make efforts within a reasonable scope, this issue can be resolved sufficiently."

Regarding the possibility of medical school professors collectively resigning, he added, "The reason professors mention the possibility of resignation is that the political circles have not provided a way for their mentees, the residents, to return to their positions," and requested, "We ask the government to consider this flexibly."

Earlier, at around 9:35 a.m., Lim appeared before the police and said, "I will exercise my right to refuse to answer questions unrelated to the accusation," adding, "I have never conspired in the process of residents submitting resignation letters, nor have I abetted anyone's violation of the Medical Service Act."

Lim had previously left the police investigation on the 12th after raising suspicions of higher-ups' involvement just one hour into the questioning. The legal representative of Lim submitted a request to the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency the following day to disqualify the investigators due to insulting behavior and harsh treatment.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare filed a complaint with the police last month on the 27th against five current and former KMA executives for violations of the Medical Service Act, obstruction of business under criminal law, instigation, and abetment.