Civic Group Files Complaint Against KMA Vice President for Nurse-Demeaning Remarks

Defamation and Insult Charges

A civic group has filed a complaint with the police against Park Yong-eon, Vice President of the Korean Medical Association, over his controversial remarks belittling nurses.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 24th, the Seomin Minsheng Countermeasures Committee (Seominwi) announced that it had reported Vice President Park to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency the previous day on charges of defamation and insult.

On the 20th, Park posted a press release from the Korean Nurses Association titled "Nurses Association Welcomes the Enactment of the Nursing Act" on his social media service (SNS), sarcastically commenting, "Stop showing off. If you wanted to do that, you should have gone to medical school."

On the 21st, Park also posted, "I have no intention of taking down the post, nor of changing it. Stop showing off. It’s disgraceful," adding, "I am angry at the sight of residents giving up their positions entirely to nurses and cheering for such a law."

Seominwi explained the reason for the complaint, stating, "We are appalled and horrified by the immoral and unethical remarks that imply slander and criticism instead of respecting and considering nurses who diligently and silently fulfill their duties," and warned that "the principles of the medical field are being threatened, and the trust of healthcare workers could be undermined."