Police: "Pressure on Medical Community Using Investigation Rights? We Cannot Agree"

Investigation of Residents Possible Only with Hospital and Health Authorities' Complaints
676 Election Offenders Cracked Down Ahead of General Election... 13 Referred to Prosecution

The police investigating the executive members of the Korean Medical Association have directly refuted the medical community's claim that the government is abusing its investigative authority to oppress doctors.

Kim Suhwan, Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated at a regular press briefing held on the 18th, "The investigation into the leadership of the Korean Medical Association is being conducted in accordance with laws and procedures," adding, "We cannot agree at all with claims that investigative authority is being used immediately to pressure doctors or that there were government directives to that effect."

Amid the ongoing strong confrontation between the government and the medical community over the increase in medical school admissions, medical staff are moving at a large hospital in Seoul on the 29th, the government's deadline for residents who left hospitals to return. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Deputy Commissioner Kim said, "We are continuing to summon and investigate the executive members of the Medical Association," and added, "We believe that further sufficient investigation is necessary, including analysis of seized materials and questioning of related parties."

He continued, "It is difficult to draw clear conclusions about the charges against the five individuals at this point," and said, "After further investigation, we will need to assess the comprehensive charges and applicable laws for the subjects before reaching a conclusion."

Earlier, on the 16th of last month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare filed complaints against five individuals?Kim Taekwoo, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the Medical Association; Joo Suho, the Media and Public Relations Chairman; Chairman Park; former Medical Association President Roh Hwangyu; and Lim Hyuntaek, President of the Korean Pediatric Society?as well as unidentified persons who posted inciting messages online, charging them with violations such as disobedience to medical work orders under the Medical Service Act and obstruction of business by instigation or assistance.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit has been summoning and investigating these individuals one by one.

However, Deputy Commissioner Kim maintained that proactive police investigations into resident doctors remain difficult.

He explained, "Regarding allegations such as resident doctors violating work commencement orders or the Medical Service Act, it is necessary for the hospitals, who are the victims, or the health authorities issuing the work commencement orders to file complaints first," adding, "It would be unreasonable for the police to start investigations randomly without any leads."

Meanwhile, with less than a month remaining until the April 10 general election (the 22nd National Assembly election), the police have registered and are investigating hundreds of election-related offenders.

As of 6 a.m. on the day, the police had handled a total of 402 election crime cases involving 676 individuals; among them, 13 have been transferred to prosecution and 574 are under investigation. The most common offense was spreading false information with 352 cases, followed by bribery with 72 cases, and election interference by public officials involving 17 individuals.

A police official stated, "Since election campaigning will officially begin on the 28th, we plan to prioritize police resources for cracking down on election offenders and respond with full force," adding, "We will strictly respond to violent acts such as assault or election interference, and illegal activities will be prosecuted with detention as a principle."