Mention of Medical Crisis in Health Media Interview
Meeting with Doctors Possible but 'Private Meeting'
"I Closed the Book in 2nd Grade... Don't Know Astrology"
Cheongong (real name Lee Cheongong), who has recently been embroiled in conspiracy theories linking the medical school expansion scale of '2000 people' during the recent medical crisis to his name due to his past connection with President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, sharply stated, "People who want to make a lot of money to buy buildings should not become doctors."
On the 22nd, the health and medical specialized media Daily Medi reported an interview with Cheongong. Cheongong reportedly responded to the interview saying, "If healthcare professionals and politicians do not change, this country will collapse," and "You can call me if you need help."
Recently, Cheongong has been caught up in conspiracy theories related to the increase of 2,000 doctors. [Image source: YouTube channel 'jungbub2013' capture]
Earlier, resident doctor Ryu Okhada requested a 'public meeting' with Cheongong, but Cheongong declined. He said, "I do not avoid meetings. If help is needed, I will respond." However, the condition is that it must be a 'private meeting,' not a 'public meeting.' He added, "If credible people such as Im Hyuntaek, the president-elect of the Korean Medical Association, propose a private meeting, I will help."
Cheongong expressed the opinion that the cause of the recent medical crisis was the lack of dialogue between the medical community and the government. He said, "In the past, governments could not push for medical school expansion due to opposition from the medical community, so this time they started with determination, but what came back was 'struggle.' The government's hardline policy was caused by the doctors," and criticized, "Doctors are a profession that should be respected, but if things are unfair, they rush to fight for them. This is wrong." He added, "If opinions were conveyed through press conferences, the public would have judged."
Cheongong also pointed out problems with doctors' professional attitudes and perspectives. He stated, "Doctors are precious people who deal with human lives," and "It is not a profession anyone can enter just by studying; they are people chosen by heaven. Those who want to make a lot of money to buy buildings should not become doctors." He continued, "Doctors should research not only treatments but also the reasons why patients are sick," emphasizing, "If you become a doctor solely for money, you cannot develop and will not be respected by the public." He reiterated that doctors have been degraded to 'medical fighters' and warned that they should not disregard the public.
Cheongong argued that it was also wrong for President Yoon Suk-yeol to intervene directly in this crisis. He said, "It was not right for the president to be involved from the beginning. The medical community and the relevant ministries should exchange opinions, mediate, and make decisions, but by stepping in directly, he became prey."
"Unpleasant to be framed as a fortune teller... I have never been involved in state affairs"
Cheongong expressed displeasure about his name being mentioned in this crisis. He said, "There are forces framing that the '2000-person expansion' policy came out because my name is 'Lee Cheongong,' but that is nonsense," and questioned, "Who would tell the president what to do?" He was also displeased with being called a 'fortune teller.' He said, "I know nothing about fortune-telling. I do not do divination or use magic. I do not make predictions," adding, "To be a fortune teller, you need tremendous knowledge, but I was someone who closed books in the second grade of elementary school." He further stated, "The country was once taken through Choi Soon-sil, and now they are trying to bring down the Yoon Suk-yeol administration by making me a cult figure," raising his voice, "Whether left or right, we must support the president."
Cheongong said, "Treating sick people is merely 'repair.' Patients do not only go to hospitals but also visit temples and churches for psychological treatment," emphasizing, "Therefore, it is important to conduct research together with religious communities." He also said, "There are many people in the international community who cannot receive treatment due to poverty, so we need to expand the global telemedicine system to help them. If that happens, South Korea's credit rating will change significantly."
Meanwhile, on the same day, Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, demanded on Facebook that President Yoon, in accordance with the public sentiment confirmed in the April general election, implement at least ten minimum measures, including refraining from drinking alcohol. He also requested that President Yoon and his wife stop watching YouTube broadcasts by fortune tellers like Cheongong and far-right YouTubers.
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