‘Network Operation’ Yudi Dental Founder Given Suspended Prison Sentence in First Trial

Kim, the founder of UDC Dental Clinic, who is accused of violating the medical law’s ‘one person, one clinic’ regulation by owning and operating over 20 dental clinics in a network form, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.

Seoul Central District Court, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the morning of the 15th, Judge Kim Gil-ho of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 11 sentenced Kim, who was indicted for violating the Medical Service Act, to three years in prison with a five-year suspension. Kim did not appear in court that day.

Previously, Kim was accused of employing 18 nominal directors and operating a total of 22 dental clinics from August 2012 to November 2015. Article 33, Paragraph 8 of the Medical Service Act, revised in 2012, stipulates that “medical personnel shall not open or operate more than one medical institution under any name,” which he violated.

After the investigation began, Kim fled to the United States, and in November 2015, the indictment was suspended. Meanwhile, accomplices including executives and branch clinic directors were convicted of violating the Medical Service Act. The prosecution later reopened the case, conducted an investigation, and indicted Kim without detention.