Lee Guk-jong "This Life Is Ruined... I Will Never Run a Trauma Center Again"

"Nurses in Harsh Conditions, Shedding Tears of Blood"
"Ajou University Hospital Deficit? Lies"
"Will Not Run in the General Election"
Phone Interview with CBS 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show'

Professor Lee Guk-jong, Director of the Trauma Center in the Southern Gyeonggi Region at Ajou University Hospital [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Professor Lee Guk-jong of Ajou University Hospital, who announced his intention to step down from the position of head of the Southern Gyeonggi Regional Trauma Center, stated on the 21st, "Even if I die, I will never run a trauma center in Korea again."

In a phone interview with CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the same day, Professor Lee said, "I will live as a professor. I don't know anymore. This life is completely ruined."

He criticized Ajou University Hospital, saying, "Everything except breathing is a lie," and pointed out that despite a budget of about 6 billion won last year, there was no increase in nursing staff.

Professor Lee revealed, "While flying together, nurses' fingers got broken, and there were miscarriages," adding, "It brings tears of blood. I told the nurses to hold on a little longer. 'Just endure this year,' 'Just endure six months next year,' and I've been dragging it out until now."

On the afternoon of September 6 last year, at the Gyeonggi Southern Trauma Center of Ajou University Hospital in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Center Director Lee Guk-jong is wearing a headset and talking with officials at the "Seventh Doctor Helicopter Launch Ceremony."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the hospital's claim that financial losses occur every time the trauma center accepts patients, Professor Lee stated, "Did the Ministry of Health and Welfare dump the trauma center on Ajou University? There is absolutely no consensus within Ajou University. Ajou University should not be doing this kind of project," and added, "We failed the first round of regional trauma center selection on December 2, 2012. After failing, they made a fuss saying, 'You caused the failure.' On the day we failed, then Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo called me out from surgery, put me up as a face for the public, and issued a public statement."

He refuted the hospital's claim of deficits by saying, "Ajou University Hospital earned over 50 billion won in revenue last year. It is one of the hospitals that makes the most money nationwide."

Professor Lee also claimed that Ajou University Hospital used him for profit-making projects. He said, "They tried to push a staff cafeteria into the basement level 2 of the trauma center, going around asking Gyeonggi Provincial Council members for permission, selling me out," adding, "'Lee Guk-jong has nowhere to eat,' they said, and promised that if they put a staff cafeteria in the trauma center basement, I would come down from work to eat."

Regarding complaints about the noise from the doctor helicopter, which is known to be a source of conflict with Ajou University Hospital, he said, "For nearly 20 years, while flying the helicopter, neither patients nor their guardians have ever complained to me, and in fact, there have been very few complaints. Yet, the hospital uses complaints as an excuse," adding, "If complaints come in, they can be explained, but with just a few complaints, they have been cracking down on people like catching rats for 10 years."

Regarding rumors about his possible run in the general elections, he dismissed them, saying, "I can't even do politics inside the National Assembly, so what are you talking about?" and added, "To do that well with a smile, I would have to compromise with the hospital to some extent, but I can't do that."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.