The professional occupation with the highest number of arrests for sex crimes over the past six years was 'doctor,' but it was reported that there were no cases of license revocation due to this.
According to the 'Sexual Violence Crime Arrest Status (2018~2023)' submitted by the National Police Agency to Kim Nam-hee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Gyeonggi Gwangmyeong), there were 1,747 sexual violence offenders among professionals such as doctors, lawyers, professors, religious figures, journalists, and artists, with doctors accounting for the largest number at 962, reported NoCut News. By type, rape and forced molestation were the most common with 833 cases, followed by 100 cases of filming using cameras, 23 cases of obscene acts using communication media, and 6 cases of public place intrusion for sexual purposes.
Next in number were ▲religious figures (642) ▲professors (228) ▲journalists (115) ▲lawyers (100).
Despite an average of 160 sex crimes per year, there were zero cases of doctors having their licenses revoked for violating the Special Act on Sexual Violence Crimes during the period. However, in this year, which is not included in the arrest status data, there was one case of a doctor’s license being revoked due to a sex crime.
The reason doctors convicted of sex crimes were able to continue practicing was the absence of relevant laws. The existing Medical Service Act allowed license revocation only when sentenced to imprisonment or higher for violating 'medical-related laws.' Although there was a provision allowing suspension of qualifications for 'acts severely damaging the dignity of medical personnel,' from 2014 to 2018, only four doctors had their qualifications suspended for sex crimes, and the actual punishment was limited to a one-month suspension.
As criticism grew for the need for stronger sanctions, the National Assembly significantly revised medical license regulations last year. According to the amended Medical Service Act passed in April last year and implemented in November, if a medical professional is sentenced to imprisonment or higher (including suspended sentences and probation, excluding unintentional medical accidents causing death or injury) for a crime, their license will be revoked. The disqualification grounds for medical personnel were expanded from 'crimes related to duties' to 'all crimes.'
However, medical professionals whose licenses are revoked can apply for reissuance after completing 40 hours of medical ethics education. Yet, as criticisms continue that the reissuance requirements for medical professionals who committed crimes remain lax and ambiguous, the government is reportedly discussing stricter guidelines, including not reissuing licenses to doctors sentenced to imprisonment for crimes such as drug offenses and sex crimes.
Assembly member Kim Nam-hee pointed out, "Sex crime punishments for professionals who have significant social influence and whose work is based on trust must be handled strictly."
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