Criticism of "Crazy Woman" and "Sipsangsi" Remarks... Medical Association President Says "Freedom of Expression"

Im Hyuntaek, President of the Korean Medical Association, Attends National Assembly Hearing as Witness
Kang Seonwoo: "Called a 'Crazy Woman' for Criticizing the Association"
Responds to Controversial Remarks with "Freedom of Expression under the Constitution"

Im Hyeon-taek, president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), who had previously made extreme remarks such as "crazy woman" and "Ten Eunuchs," came under scrutiny at a National Assembly hearing. On the 26th, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee held a hearing on the emergency situation in the medical community and summoned President Im as a witness. The meeting between President Im and the government side, coming four months after the 'medical-government conflict,' drew attention, and a brief verbal exchange occurred when the opposition party brought up President Im's past remarks.

Im Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Medical Association, attended as a witness at the Health and Welfare Committee's hearing on the emergency situation in the medical sector held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 26th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kang Seon-woo, the Democratic Party member and secretary of the Health and Welfare Committee, called out to President Im, who was seated as a witness that day. She then asked him, "Do you remember me?" When President Im replied, "Yes," Kang said, "When I was a spokesperson in the 21st National Assembly, you called me a crazy woman, right?" President Im, nodding slightly and unable to speak at first, appeared embarrassed and smiled before answering, "Yes."

When Kang asked again, "Why did you call me a crazy woman?" President Im trailed off and replied, "I don't remember exactly." Kang then raised her voice, saying, "You don't remember? At that time, I issued a statement criticizing a doctor who performed general anesthesia and repeatedly sexually assaulted a female patient who came for a sedation endoscopy, questioning whether such a doctor should remain a doctor for life. However, the disciplinary action the KMA took against that doctor was only a two-year suspension of membership. I criticized this in my statement, and you called me a crazy woman. Do you have anything to say about that?"

As President Im began to speak, saying, "That part is very important because..." Kang immediately interrupted, "No. Do you have anything to say about calling me a crazy woman?" Only then did President Im respond, "I regret it."

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kang Seon-woo. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Afterward, Kang continued to point out President Im's controversial remarks. She said, "While preparing for the hearing, I found that my case was mild compared to others," and pointed out, "You called the judge of Changwon District Court, who convicted a doctor, 'Is this woman sane?' and were reported for it. You said to Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Gyu-hong, 'I would rather believe Kim Il-sung than Cho Gyu-hong.' You called Democratic Party member Kim Yoon and People Power Party member Ahn Sang-hoon, as well as Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Park Min-soo, 'Ten Eunuchs' (a group of eunuchs who manipulated a young emperor and engaged in corrupt politics during the late Eastern Han dynasty in China)."

She also criticized, "You called the Korea Pediatric Hospital Association, which did not participate in the collective medical strike, 'people who admit perfectly healthy children.'" She added, "This is a hearing on the emergency situation in the medical community, but looking at the witness and reference list, it seems like a hearing on President Im's abusive language. You have indiscriminately launched verbal attacks against judges, ministers, vice ministers, lawmakers, and fellow doctors."

Kang said, "'There are no important patients worth risking prison,' 'Let's not use any medicine on vomiting patients,' and other remarks are intimidation toward the public," and asked, "Before asking the public to listen to the medical community's voice, shouldn't you watch your own words and actions and apologize to the people who were hurt?"

In response, President Im repeatedly asked, "May I answer?" and then countered, "I believe it falls within the constitutional freedom of expression that the people have."