Lee Won-wook "Are Those Who Decided to Strike Doctors? Take Off Your White Coats"

"Trying to Profit by Holding Life Hostage"
"How Are They Different from Those Involved in the Gwanghwamun Rally?"

Lee Won-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is declaring his candidacy for the Supreme Council member on the morning of the 19th of last month at the National Assembly Communication Office press conference room in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kang Joo-hee] On the 26th, Lee Won-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said to the doctors who are continuing their strike against the prosecution, "If you are going to abandon the public interest and disregard the lives of the people, take off your legal robes and white coats."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Lee said, "Perhaps our citizens have unknowingly contributed to building a strong fortress for prosecutors and doctors through their infinite trust in them. They gained honor by feeding on our boundless respect, but what they returned was corruption and strikes."

Lee referred to a part of the Korean Medical Association's (KMA) Declaration of Medical Ethics, which states, "Our doctors have been entrusted by humanity and the people with the noble mission of preserving and promoting human life and health," and then pointed out, "The representative of those who made such a declaration is Choi Dae-jip, who wears a red armband."

He continued, "Are those who decided to strike amid the increasing number of COVID-19 confirmed cases truly doctors?" and criticized, "How are they different from the participants of the Gwanghwamun rally mocking the quarantine authorities?"

Lee also addressed the prosecution, saying, "'Prosecutors are representatives of the public interest' is the definition of prosecutors under the Prosecutors' Office Act. Is there a more honorable justice than this?" He pointed out, "As of 2019, there are 2,292 prosecutors in South Korea. But do these 2,292 people properly investigate their own corruption? In fact, 78% of the disciplinary cases against prosecutors over the past 10 years were not even investigated or prosecuted."

He added, "Prosecution has covered up their corruption by holding public interest hostage. The KMA is trying to protect their own interests by holding lives hostage. Are they free during this national crisis?" He urged, "Take off the legal robes and white coats given by the people. Are you not ashamed in front of our children who spend their days unable to go to school or meet friends due to COVID-19? Do not ruin the beautiful name that received #ThanksToYou."

Meanwhile, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) proceeded with the second general strike as scheduled from the 26th to the 28th.

In a public statement on the same day, the KMA said, "We sincerely apologize to the public for having to begin the planned collective action for three days starting from the 26th, as the medical community and the government failed to reach an agreement."

They explained, "The medical community reluctantly took collective action because the strike is the only means to protest the government's lack of communication, but we set the principle that it must never threaten or harm the public and patients. We have done our best to maintain essential medical functions such as childbirth and emergency rooms and to support COVID-19 regardless of the strike."

They added, "There is absolutely no doctor who wants to lock the clinic door and head to the streets. We really want to return. Please listen to our voices so that we can return to the clinic and meet our patients as soon as possible."

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