"Prepared Everything but Not a Single Patient Came" Jeonnam National University ER Doctor Says "I'm Breaking Down"

In the tragic incident involving a Jeju Air passenger plane at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do, where 179 out of 181 passengers perished, Professor Cho Yong-su of the Emergency Medicine Department at Chonnam National University Hospital, located about 60 km from the accident site, expressed his sorrow, saying, "We were fully prepared, but not a single patient was transported to us."

Professor Jo Yong-su (left) from the Department of Emergency Medicine at Chonnam National University Hospital and a post he uploaded on Facebook. tvN 'You Quiz on the Block', captured from Jo Yong-su's Facebook.

On the 30th, Professor Cho Yong-su posted a black-and-white chrysanthemum photo on his social media along with a reflection on the day of the disaster. He wrote, "As soon as the request was made, the DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) was dispatched, and we were fully prepared in the emergency room to receive critically ill patients," adding, "(However) not a single patient was transported. Not one person was brought to us."

He continued, "Those who should have definitely returned to the hospital ultimately did not come back. It is heartbreaking," and expressed his condolences, saying, "I sincerely pray for the repose of the deceased."

The "people who should have returned to the hospital" mentioned by Professor Cho are presumed to refer to fellow medical professionals who were victims in this tragedy. According to a report by Hankook Ilbo, among the victims were Professor Kim (age 47) of Chonnam National University Hospital, his wife who was a pediatrician, and their two middle school children, comprising a family.

Netizens who read Professor Cho’s post left comments expressing their sorrow, such as "The pain of being fully prepared and capable to save patients but unable to because no one was brought to us," "It’s heartbreaking that there was nothing we could do," and "It must be unbearably painful, but I hope you stay strong."

Earlier, the Fire Agency announced that as of 9:06 p.m. the previous day, the final death toll from the aircraft accident at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do was 179. Of the 181 passengers on board, only two crew members seated at the rear of the aircraft survived. They were rescued from the tail section of the plane and initially treated at Mokpo Hankook Hospital before being transferred to Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital and Asan Medical Center in Seoul, respectively.

Meanwhile, Professor Cho gained attention for dramatically saving high school teacher Kim Kwan-haeng, who collapsed after being struck by lightning on August 5 and experienced cardiac arrest for 40 minutes. On the 25th, Professor Cho appeared on tvN’s "You Quiz on the Block" alongside Kim, discussing the miraculous process of overcoming a survival probability of less than 1%.