Hwang Unha: "Forced Mobilization of Medical Personnel? Intentional Distortion and Politicization" Refuting the Psychiatry Association's Claims

The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association has expressed opposition to the "Partial Amendment to the Disaster and Safety Management Act" proposed by 14 members of the Democratic Party of Korea, including Assemblyman Hwang Unha. The photo shows medical staff at a public health center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 28th. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Seulgi Kim] The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association has opposed the partial amendment to the Disaster and Safety Management Act proposed by Rep. Hwang Unha of the Democratic Party of Korea and others, which includes provisions to forcibly mobilize private medical personnel to disaster sites during emergencies. In response, Rep. Hwang called it "irresponsible agitation and intentional politicization."

On the 24th, Rep. Hwang and 14 others (Kim Kyung-hyeop, Park Young-soon, Yoo Dong-soo, Park Jung, Kim Sung-joo, Shin Jung-hoon, Song Ki-heon, Jang Cheol-min, Lee Sang-min, Kim Min-chul, Kim Young-ho, Jin Sun-mi, Nam In-soon) proposed a partial amendment to the Disaster and Safety Management Act that includes 'personnel' as part of disaster management resources under current law.

In response, the Neuropsychiatric Association issued a statement on the 30th, saying, "The amendment would allow mobilization orders to be issued to personnel, and institutions receiving such requests would have to comply unless there are special reasons, creating a mobilization system." They pointed out that "this distorts the fundamental purpose and spirit of disaster medical and mental health services provided by private experts and medical personnel who have voluntarily cooperated in overcoming national disasters despite risks and damages."

They further stated, "The amendment contains unconstitutional elements that undermine social trust and public-private cooperation necessary for disaster recovery by treating private personnel as subjects of stockpiling, preparation, and mobilization without consultation." They demanded, "The amendment, which degrades private experts from consultation partners to mobilization targets, insults disaster medical organizations and damages social trust, and therefore must be withdrawn."

Hwang Unha, member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Rep. Hwang rebutted the Neuropsychiatric Association's claims on the 1st, stating, "The claim that there is a legal basis for forcibly mobilizing medical personnel is not true."

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Rep. Hwang said, "The Basic Disaster and Safety Management Act regulates material resources, but human resources are excluded. This is a legislative deficiency."

He explained, "In large-scale national disaster situations, human resources should be considered alongside material resources to establish a system that allows joint utilization of disaster management resources for rapid deployment and support at disaster sites." He added, "This amendment supplements legislative deficiencies, so suddenly claiming 'forcible mobilization' or 'forced labor' is nonsense."

He continued, "Interpreting deployment as forcible mobilization is also a misinterpretation. Since there are concerns about individual autonomy and infringement on private property, these are discretionary provisions. Discretionary provisions mean that deployment is possible based on consultation or consent." He asserted, "Interpreting this as forcible mobilization against medical personnel's will is an intentional distortion."

He added, "It is a misinterpretation to perceive this law as allowing forcible mobilization against the voluntary will of medical personnel." He concluded, "It is a concept that includes human resources necessary for establishing a joint utilization system of disaster management resources to promptly deploy and support both human and material resources."

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