[Reporter’s Notebook] The Real Reason the KMA President Faces Impeachment

A female judge who sentenced a doctor indicted for involuntary manslaughter due to professional negligence was met with the remark, "Is this woman sane?" A senior official from the Presidential Office claimed that 7,500 medical students could be educated simultaneously, which was dismissed as "nonsense like a schizophrenic's rambling." To a doctor who defamed him, he said, "If you want to withdraw the lawsuit, bring 100 million won."

These statements are extreme and lack dignity, but they might be said when intoxicated at a drinking party with acquaintances. However, all of these remarks were publicly made directly by Im Hyun-taek, the president of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), regarding the medical crisis. President Im is receiving criticism both from within the medical community and from the public for such 'reckless remarks.'

A vote of no confidence (impeachment) against President Im will be held at the KMA's extraordinary delegate general meeting on the 10th. If two-thirds of the delegates attend and two-thirds of those present vote in favor, the no-confidence motion will pass.

President Im has already lost a significant amount of leadership within the KMA. The no-confidence motion was proposed with the agreement of more than 40% of all KMA delegates. Park Dan, emergency committee chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association, along with 90 residents, publicly requested the delegates to "impeach President Im."

Why is the medical community, which is in a fierce confrontation with the government over increasing medical school admissions, turning its back on the KMA president who is supposed to lead the 'emergency situation'? Various reasons such as discord with residents have been mentioned, but the biggest reason is believed to be President Im's inappropriate conduct. 103 KMA delegates nationwide requested the convening of an extraordinary delegate general meeting for impeachment, stating that "President Im has severely damaged the honor of doctors and the KMA by repeatedly making reckless and inappropriate remarks."

In response, on the 30th of last month, President Im bowed his head and apologized to KMA members, saying, "I sincerely apologize a hundred times for causing trouble to members with inappropriate and careless words and actions during this grave situation." In fact, President Im should have apologized to the public first. The inappropriate and careless remarks of the 'KMA president,' who leads the KMA as the sole legal organization of the medical community, caused the public to distrust the entire medical community and made even the medical community's reasonable claims lose persuasive power with the public.

In reality, President Im's reckless remarks were reported bluntly every time, and the public began to ignore even the reasonable arguments of the medical community, saying, "If even the representative is like that, why should we listen to doctors?"

Whether President Im is re-elected at the delegate general meeting or impeached and replaced, if the KMA president representing the medical community continues to make harsh remarks and behave recklessly, it will be difficult to gain public sympathy regarding the medical crisis. Even previous KMA presidents have caused the entire medical community to lose credibility with 'arrogant' remarks like "The government cannot beat doctors." From now on, the KMA leadership must approach the public and government with a rational and dignified attitude. Only then can the medical community's position gain persuasive power.