Suspicions of 'Emperor Vaccination'... Gangneung Mayor's Office Flu Shot Administered by Public Health Center Director and Others Indicted

Citizen Group Raises Suspicion of 'Hwangje Vaccination'
Four High-Ranking Officials Who Received Shots Not Prosecuted

Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office Gangneung Branch announced on the 4th that they have indicted A, the head of the Gangneung City Health Center, and B, a nurse under their supervision, without detention on charges of administering flu shots to the mayor and other high-ranking officials without a doctor's examination (violation of the Medical Service Act).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] High-ranking public officials are facing criticism after allegations surfaced that they received "emperor vaccinations."

On the 4th, the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office Gangneung Branch announced that they have indicted Gangneung City Health Center Director A and affiliated nurse B without detention on charges of administering flu shots to high-ranking public officials such as the mayor without a doctor's examination (violation of the Medical Service Act).

A and B are accused of performing unlicensed medical acts by arbitrarily administering flu vaccinations to four high-ranking public officials, including Mayor Kim Han-geun, on the morning of October 21 last year in the offices of the Gangneung Mayor and Deputy Mayor without a doctor's preliminary examination.

The prosecution stated that they will do their best to maintain the indictment to prevent incidents where high-ranking public officials receive so-called "emperor vaccinations" in their offices.

Regarding the four high-ranking public officials, including Mayor Kim, who received the flu shots for free, they were not prosecuted on the grounds that they were eligible for free preventive vaccinations as influenza response personnel.

In November last year, Gangneung Civic Action, a civic group in Gangneung, and the Justice Party Gangneung City Committee raised suspicions that "Mayor Kim and others received free flu vaccinations in their offices" and urged an investigation.

In response, Mayor Kim said, "I bow my head and apologize for not meeting the standards of transparency and fairness, which are highly valued in the changing administrative environment and the strict evaluation criteria of citizens regarding city administration," but did not disclose the vaccination location.

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