"A Country Run by Liberal Arts People"... Professor Lee Gukjong Ultimately Apologizes to Ministry of National Defense

Explained to the Ministry of National Defense with an Apology
No Disciplinary Action to Be Taken

Lee Gukjong, director of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, issued an apology to the Ministry of National Defense for using some harsh expressions while sharply criticizing the realities of South Korea's medical system during a lecture to military doctors.

According to NoCut News on April 19, after his remarks became public on April 15, Lee contacted a Ministry of National Defense official and explained that, although his comments were intended to encourage military doctors, he ultimately felt sorry for the outcome.

Lee Gukjong, director of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, expressed an apology to the Ministry of National Defense for using some harsh expressions during a lecture to military doctors. Yonhap News

The Ministry of National Defense has decided to effectively take no disciplinary action regarding the matter. The ministry acknowledged that some of Lee's remarks were somewhat excessive, but said it trusted his intentions and highly valued his past achievements.

Previously, on April 14, Lee gave a lecture at the Korea Army Cadet Military School in Goesan, North Chungcheong Province, addressing medical officer candidates. While criticizing the medical community, he said, "The Joseon Peninsula is a country run by liberal arts people who only talk."

He continued, "This is the DNA of the Joseon Peninsula that has lasted for thousands of years, and it does not change. If you don't like the temple, the monk should leave," referencing historical invasions such as the Imjin War and the Manchu Invasion. He added, "The sons and daughters of Joseon do not understand what is being said," and advised, "If you don't want to spend your life being harassed by Seoul National University, Severance Hospital's elderly doctors, and government officials, don't go into vital specialties."

He also mentioned the late Professor Yoon Handuk, who died from overwork, saying, "He spent his whole life working in trauma surgery, but nothing changed. My life is ruined. Professor Yoon Handuk, who worked with me in trauma surgery, died from overwork. Don't let yourselves end up like that."

Yoon Handuk, director of the National Emergency Medical Center at the National Medical Center, who dedicated himself to establishing South Korea's emergency medical system, died while on duty during the Lunar New Year holiday in 2019. He was known for sleeping in hospital emergency rooms and at disaster sites, practicing medicine, and leading institutional reforms such as the introduction of emergency medical helicopters.

Lee's remarks drew attention and support in political circles. Ahn Cheolsoo, a presidential primary candidate for the People Power Party, agreed with Lee, criticizing the Yoon Sukyeol administration's medical school quota policy as "an unreasonable policy," and said, "The trickle-down theory that simply increasing medical school quotas would naturally bring more local and essential medical personnel was extremely irresponsible and an insult to doctors in vital specialties."

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate for the Reform Party, also stated on social media, "I will move forward on a new path of science, reason, rationality, and problem-solving to change the DNA of the Republic of Korea."