Lee Nak-yeon "Some Are Stirring Vaccine Anxiety"...Criticism Arises Over KMA's Total Strike Threat

Korean Medical Association Opposes Medical Law Amendment
Criticizes Lee Nak-yeon on SNS for "Inducing Public Anxiety and Distrust"

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has expressed its intention to launch a total strike if a bill to revoke the licenses of doctors sentenced to imprisonment or higher for serious crimes such as traffic accidents, robbery, murder, and sexual violence is passed. In response, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, voiced criticism.

On the 20th, the presidents of the 16 city and provincial medical associations nationwide issued a statement expressing "unbearable anger" over the passage of the Medical Service Act amendment bill, which cancels the licenses of doctors sentenced to imprisonment or higher for all crimes including traffic accidents, through the Health and Welfare Committee. They declared that they "absolutely cannot accept" the bill.

They warned, "If this bill is approved by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, we will launch a full-scale struggle including a nationwide doctors' strike," and clearly stated that "it will cause significant obstacles to COVID-19 response efforts."

Additionally, the six candidates for the 41st KMA presidential election issued a statement saying, "Doctor licenses can be managed through self-discipline rather than amendments to the Medical Service Act," and added, "Indiscriminate disciplinary actions will create innocent victims in medical practice, and ultimately the damage will return to the public, so we absolutely cannot accept this."

In response, Lee Nak-yeon posted on his social media, "Some maliciously incite vaccine anxiety, but the public is wise," and asked, "What benefit do those 'some' seek from the public's anxiety and distrust?"

Meanwhile, on the 19th, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee approved an amendment to the Medical Service Act that allows the revocation of doctors' licenses if they are sentenced to imprisonment or higher for serious crimes such as murder, robbery, and sexual assault.

However, if a doctor is sentenced to imprisonment or higher for professional negligence causing death or injury during medical practice, their license will not be revoked. This reflects the special nature of doctors' work, which deals with public health and life.

This measure is known to have been prepared to ensure fairness with other professional fields. Currently, other professionals such as lawyers, certified public accountants, and judicial scriveners also lose their licenses if sentenced to imprisonment or higher. Members of the National Assembly also lose their seats if sentenced to imprisonment or higher.

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