Hong Jun-pyo to Medical Association President: "The Messenger Is a Ruffian... The People Don't Trust"

"Silent Even When Increasing Lawyers... Only Doctors Strike," Claim

Hong Jun-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, strongly criticized the medical community's collective action in opposition to the policy of increasing medical school quotas. He condemned the group strike that held the lives and health of the people hostage as "wrong."

On the 17th, in a post on his Facebook, Mayor Hong pointed out, "No matter how good the message is, if the messenger behaves like a rogue, the public will not believe it." He added, "Seeing the medical associations and the government clash over the simple issue of increasing medical school quotas as a fight over their own interests, unrelated to the essence of medical reform, is like a contest to see who is more pathetic."

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu
Photo by Yonhap News

Mayor Hong claimed that there was no such backlash when law schools were introduced during the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2004. He said, "There was no lawyer strike when lawyers were significantly increased, and no technician strike when science and engineering personnel were greatly expanded for workforce enhancement," adding, "Only the medical associations uniquely go on strike holding the lives and health of the people hostage." He also asserted, "Only some doctors, incited by certain medical associations, are holding rallies and strikes," and "Seoul National University College of Medicine did not increase even one student, yet Seoul National University Hospital is on strike."

Mayor Hong stated, "No one will sympathize with a person who mocks politicians urging reasonable negotiations and disparages or uses abusive language against judges who ruled guilty in medical malpractice cases, even if that person issues a public appeal to the nation," adding, "That is because the messenger has already lost public trust. It's time to stop now."

The 'messenger' mentioned by Mayor Hong appears to be Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA). Earlier, President Im sparked controversy by harshly criticizing the court ruling that found a doctor guilty of professional negligence resulting in death.

After the verdict was announced, on the 8th, he wrote on his Facebook, "A doctor who treated a patient gets 10 months in prison and 2 years probation because the outcome was poor? Judge A of Changwon District Court, is this woman sane?"