KMA: "Government's Ruthless Suppression... We Will Fight Until the End"

The Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Medical Association condemned the government's all-out pressure, including summoning current and former executives of the association for investigation, calling it "ruthless oppression," and stated, "We will fight to the end."

On the 1st, police who completed a search and seizure at the Seoul Medical Association in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, are moving the seized items. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, the Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Medical Association said in a statement, "On the 20th, the government forcibly allocated increased quotas for medical schools nationwide, driving Korean healthcare to an irreversible catastrophe," and added, "Despite this, as doctors did not give up their will, ruthless oppression is being carried out."

They continued, "The government announced that it will begin administrative license suspension for residents starting next week and continues to forcibly summon the leadership of the Emergency Response Committee for investigation," adding, "The scope of oppression is gradually expanding." According to the committee, staff members of the Korean Medical Association who assist the committee were summoned as witnesses for investigation, and following searches of the homes and hospitals of general committee members, even association staff members were subjected to searches. In response, the committee questioned, "Is Korea truly a country that respects freedom and human rights?" and declared a firm stance, saying, "No matter how much the government uses public authority to oppress, doctors will not collapse."

They also opposed the illegal nature of Vice Minister Park Min-su of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's refusal to issue recommendation letters necessary for visa issuance to residents who received administrative sanctions. On the same day, Vice Minister Park explained, "There is a procedure where Korean doctors must obtain a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to become doctors in the United States. If residents are sanctioned due to leaving their local workplaces, it leaves a record that excludes them from receiving the recommendation letter. Practically, this can block the path to becoming a doctor in the U.S."

The Emergency Response Committee stated, "According to regulations, recommendation letters can be applied for at any time after the administrative sanction period ends," and said, "In a free democratic country where freedom of residence and immigration is legalized, it is unacceptable for the state to threaten to restrict overseas employment in violation of regulations."

Finally, the committee declared, "We will resolutely confront the totalitarian violence that assumes doctors will obediently comply if oppressed and punished by any means," and "We do not recognize the current government as a legitimate government of Korea. We will fight to the end until a legitimate government of Korea is established."