KMA President Posts Photo of Somali Medical Student Saying "Coming Soon"... Criticized as "Excessive Mockery"

'Controversy over Introducing Foreign Doctors'
Medical Association President: "Import Japanese Health Minister"

Amid the government's plan to allow foreign medical license holders to practice medicine domestically as a measure against medical service gaps, Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korea Medical Association, posted a message mocking this decision.

Im Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Medical Association, is holding a press conference on the 7th in the afternoon in front of the Civil Complaints Office of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, regarding the recent controversy over the transfer of all patients at Seoul Asan Medical Center.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, President Im posted an article titled "Somalia's First Medical School Graduation in 20 Years" on his Facebook, writing "Coming soon." The photo he shared showed Somali medical students graduating. He also posted another message stating, "Instead of importing countless doctors from developing countries, it would be better to import just one Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare from Japan."

However, netizens criticized President Im for mocking by referring to doctors from specific countries as "developing country doctors," calling it "racial discrimination." Comments included, "This is disrespectful to Somalia," "Isn't this derogatory toward a specific country?" "Whether Somalia or anywhere else, the birth of doctors is a cause for celebration, not ridicule," and "It seems to reflect a misguided elitist mindset."

The day before, President Im also posted, "Where will the chartered plane be parked to import doctors from developing countries?" This appears to be a critique of the partial amendment to the Medical Service Act Enforcement Rules announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Foreign Medical License Holders Allowed to Practice During 'Serious' Health Care Crisis

[Image source=Im Hyuntaek, President of the Korean Medical Association, Facebook]

Earlier, the government announced plans to allow foreign medical license holders to practice domestically in preparation for a prolonged medical service gap caused by the collective resignation of resident doctors. This is interpreted as an effort to prepare "doctor substitutes" to prevent national medical policy from being shaken by doctors' collective actions.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a legislative notice for partial amendments to the Medical Service Act Enforcement Rules until the 20th of this month. The amendment allows foreign medical license holders to perform medical support tasks recognized as necessary by the Minister of Health and Welfare when the health care crisis alert level reaches the current "serious" stage.

Currently, foreign medical professionals are only allowed to practice medicine domestically when performing duties as exchange professors under educational or technical cooperation with foreign countries, conducting educational research projects, or providing medical volunteer work with international medical volunteer groups. The amendment expands the scope of medical activities foreign medical professionals can perform domestically.