Medical Association Announces 'General Strike'... Kim Nam-guk Criticizes, "Are You Trying to Protect Doctors Who Committed Crimes?"

"Only Thinking About Collective Interests... Not a Single Convincing Part"
"Threatening with Vaccine Shots Is Gangster Behavior, Not Doctor Behavior"
Choi Dae-jip, President of KMA, "Retaliatory License Revocation Law Using Legislative Power"
"Are They Gangsters and Robbers or Members of the National Assembly?" Immediate Rebuttal

Kim Nam-guk, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Kim Nam-guk Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized the Korea Medical Association (KMA) for opposing the amendment to the Medical Service Act and citing disruptions to COVID-19 vaccination, saying, "It seems they are only thinking about the collective interests of doctors."

The KMA recently warned that if the amendment, which passed the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee (Welfare Committee), passes the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Legislation Committee), it will push for a nationwide doctors' strike. The bill centers on suspending or revoking the licenses of doctors sentenced to imprisonment or higher. The KMA strongly opposes the bill, calling it the "doctor license confiscation law."

On the 22nd, Kim appeared on YTN Radio's "Hwang Boseon's Starting Morning" and said, "Even though the government opened the door to allow doctors to retake the medical exam by compromising principles, the fact that they are once again going on a total strike shows they are only thinking about doctors' interests," adding, "It is shocking that such talk comes from the KMA, which should cooperate and assist with the only hope, the vaccine."

He continued, "I cannot understand the KMA's thinking of protecting doctors who commit serious crimes such as violent crimes, sexual offenses, and murder, which number about 40 to 50 per year," criticizing them.

Regarding the KMA's opposition, Kim said, "There is not a single part that is convincing," emphasizing, "I do not think this represents the views of all doctors. I believe most doctors put aside personal interests and serve on the difficult frontlines related to COVID-19 prevention."

On the afternoon of the 21st, at the 2nd meeting of the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Joint Committee held at the Korea Health Promotion Institute in Jung-gu, Seoul, Choi Dae-jip, the president of the Korea Medical Association, is speaking. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 19th, the Welfare Committee held a plenary session and passed the amendment to the Medical Service Act. The core of the bill is to revoke the licenses of doctors sentenced to imprisonment or higher for five years.

It also includes provisions that doctors who commit sexual crimes against minors cannot obtain medical licenses, and if medical personnel fall under this category, their licenses will be revoked and permanently stripped. However, if a medical professional commits a crime such as involuntary manslaughter or injury due to negligence during medical practice, even if sentenced to imprisonment or higher, their license will not be revoked. The amendment is scheduled to be submitted to the plenary session after passing the Legislation Committee.

The medical community has strongly opposed this. On the 20th, the KMA issued a statement signed by the presidents of city and provincial medical associations nationwide, calling the amendment the "license confiscation law" and warning that if it passes the Legislation Committee, it will cause significant obstacles to COVID-19 response.

They added, "We absolutely cannot accept the amendment that revokes doctors' licenses," emphasizing, "The amendment will push Korea's medical system into a greater crisis of collapse."

They further stated, "If the bill is passed in the Legislation Committee, the KMA will lead a nationwide doctors' strike and full-scale struggle," criticizing, "It will cause extreme resentment among the KMA's 130,000 members who protect the health and lives of the people through COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment support, and vaccination cooperation, creating major obstacles to COVID-19 response."

Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association (left), is talking with officials before the Korean Medical Association-16 City and Provincial Medical Association Presidents' Meeting held via non-face-to-face video conference at the Korean Medical Association temporary office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 20th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, Kim and Choi Dae-jip, president of the KMA, clashed head-on on social media. Kim pointed out that doctors were 'threatening,' and Choi immediately rebutted and harshly criticized this accusation.

On the 20th, Kim posted on his Facebook, "Doctors threatening over vaccination? That’s gangster behavior, not doctors," criticizing. He added, "The KMA is truly pathetic and shameful. I think even doctors are ashamed of the KMA leadership."

In response, KMA President Choi also posted on his Facebook, "The Democratic Party is truly pathetic and disgusting," and "The public must be ashamed and nauseated by the Democratic Party leadership," he criticized. He continued, "If a lawmaker uses legislative power to create a retaliatory license confiscation law, is that a gangster or a robber lawmaker?" and strongly criticized, "When a small fish jumps, even a mudskipper jumps."

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