Prosecution Concludes No Charges Against Max Daejip, Korean Medical Association President, Over Disclosure of Park Won-soon's Son's MRI Images

by Choi Sukjin

Published 04 Sep.2020 19:46(KST)

Updated 04 Sep.2020 20:56(KST)

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"Already Public Data"... Conclusion: Difficult to Judge Illegality
Defamation Complaint Case Continues Investigation

Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association. / Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution has concluded 'no charges' in the complaint case against Choi Dae-jip (48), president of the Korean Medical Association, who raised suspicions of military service corruption involving Park Ju-shin (35), son of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, in 2015 and disclosed Park's magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) photos.

The Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Sang-dae) announced on the 4th that it closed the complaint case on the 20th of last month, which former Mayor Park had requested to investigate on charges including violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, claiming that Choi's disclosure of materials was illegal.

The prosecution judged that the MRI photos of Park disclosed at a press conference in August 2015 by Choi, who was co-representative of the Medical Innovation Struggle Committee at the time, were materials already publicly available, making it difficult to determine illegality.

However, the prosecution stated that it is continuing investigations into two cases in which Choi was accused of defamation by spreading false information related to the press conference where he raised suspicions about Park's military service.

Park enlisted in the Air Force active duty in August 2011 but returned home after three days citing thigh pain, and was later classified as a public service worker due to a diagnosis of 'herniated intervertebral disc (disc)' upon re-examination.

Choi raised suspicions that Park submitted X-rays and MRI photos of different individuals when enlisting in the Air Force and for re-examination, alleging that Park tried to avoid active duty service with false documents.