Late Shin Hae-chul's Surgeon Sentenced to 1 Year Imprisonment in 2nd Trial for Medical Accident Involving Patient in 60s

One Year Prison Sentence, Same as First Trial
"Irreversible Damage... Severe Punishment Inevitable"

It has been revealed that a doctor who caused the death of singer the late Shin Hae-chul due to medical negligence was sentenced to prison for another medical malpractice case.

On the 11th, the 9th Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Lee Seong-bok) sentenced Kang Mo (55), who was indicted on charges of professional negligence causing death, to one year in prison, the same as the first trial. A prison sentence restricts physical freedom by confining the individual in a correctional facility, similar to imprisonment, but does not enforce labor.

Court. Asia Economy DB

The court recognized that the victim died due to Kang’s professional negligence, including the delayed transfer to another hospital after massive bleeding occurred during surgery. The court explained, "Although the defendant deposited 30 million won in escrow, irreversible damage in the form of death occurred, making severe punishment inevitable."

Previously, in July 2014, Kang was non-custodially indicted in November 2021 on charges of violating professional duty of care during surgery to remove deep vein thrombosis in the thigh of a male patient in his 60s, causing a blood vessel to tear and resulting in death. The patient experienced massive bleeding during surgery and was immediately transferred to another hospital but died in 2016.

Meanwhile, Kang performed surgery for intestinal stricture complications on the late Shin Hae-chul at a hospital located in Songpa-gu, Seoul, in October 2014. During this procedure, he conducted a stomach reduction surgery by folding the stomach without consent. Even after the late patient complained of pain, Kang dismissed it as a "common postoperative phenomenon" and did not take further measures. The patient’s condition worsened, and he passed away ten days after the surgery. Consequently, Kang was sentenced to one year in prison by the Supreme Court on charges of professional negligence causing death, and his medical license was revoked. However, under medical law, even if a license is revoked, it can be reissued upon application after a maximum of three years.