"Judges Lacking Scientific Thinking" Lee Jae-gap Criticizes Courts' Queries on 'Quarantine Pass'

Hearing on Suspension of Quarantine Pass Effectiveness on the 7th... Court: "Please Briefly Explain the National Interest of the Quarantine Pass"
Lee Jae-gap: "Had to Fight Against Unscientific, Politically Biased, and Anti-Vaccine Groups for 2 Years During COVID"

Professor Lee Jae-gap, Hallym University College of Medicine
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital expressed frustration regarding the suspension lawsuit of the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass), stating, "We need to make judges, who lack scientific thinking and demand clear, short answers from public officials trying to find the best methods in uncertain disaster situations, understand this."

On the 11th, Professor Lee posted on his Facebook, saying, "During infectious disease disasters, the communication skills of public officials in charge of quarantine and infectious disease experts are becoming increasingly important."

This appears to refer to the exchange between the court and quarantine authorities during the hearing on the suspension of the quarantine pass effectiveness held at the Seoul Administrative Court on the 7th. At that time, the court asked the defendant, the quarantine authorities, "Please briefly state the national interest that the quarantine pass aims to achieve. We do not understand."

Professor Lee said, "For two years since the COVID-19 outbreak, scientists and medical professionals have had to fight against unscientific views, political bias, and anti-vaxxers," adding, "(Public officials in charge of quarantine and infectious disease experts) must communicate in language that citizens can understand and patiently persuade politicians who lack tolerance and treat officials or experts as inferiors. They must become masters of communication in extreme situations."

He continued, "Public officials and experts have hardly received such (communication) training and are holding everything together with personal effort," adding, "I am exhausted. But the situation is too harsh to allow for exhaustion. Two years have passed like this, and I wonder how much longer we have to endure such times."

Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital posted on his Facebook on the 11th, mentioning the suspension lawsuit of the vaccination certificate and negative confirmation system (quarantine pass). Photo by Professor Lee (Facebook capture)

Professor Lee also expressed concerns when the court halted the government's quarantine pass policy for academies, study rooms, and study cafes on the 4th. Through his Facebook on that day, he said, "The court now has the final review authority over quarantine policies. All quarantine policies facing opposition will be subject to administrative lawsuits and injunction applications, and the court's decision will determine whether quarantine policies are implemented," adding, "I express serious concern over the injunction being granted."

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