Democratic Party "Son's MRI and CT Data Must Be Disclosed"... Jeong Ho-young's Side Says "Personal Information"

Democratic Party Raises Suspicion of False Military Service Documents for Jeong Ho-young's Son... "Lumbar Vertebra 6 Does Not Actually Exist"

Shin Hyun-young, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Shin's Facebook screen capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Democratic Party lawmakers belonging to the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee demanded the submission of medical imaging records related to the military service evaluation of Minister of Health and Welfare nominee Jeong Ho-young's son on the 19th. In response, the nominee's side refused, citing 'personal information.'

Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Seong-ju, Shin Hyun-young, and Go Min-jung held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day, urging the nominee to "disclose the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan data related to his son's military service."

Lawyer and doctor Shin stated, "Many doctors are questioning the military service change evaluation of the nominee's son," adding, "The hospital medical records indicate a herniated disc, but the military-use medical certificate diagnosis was altered to spinal stenosis."

He continued, "The lumbar vertebra 6 recorded in the military-use medical certificate does not actually exist," and argued, "Incorrectly recording the lesion location in a military-use medical certificate that determines military enlistment undermines the professionalism, objectivity, and credibility of the certificate and raises suspicion of it being a false diagnosis."

He also said, "Judging solely based on MRI reading opinions does not provide clear grounds for the appropriateness of the physical examination grade 4 evaluation," and added, "The MRI images should be thoroughly reviewed to verify if the readings were accurate, whether the diagnosis was properly written based on them, and if there were any illegal or improper practices during the Military Manpower Administration's grade 4 evaluation process."

Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jeong Ho-young is arriving at the office set up at the Seoul Northern Regional Headquarters of the National Pension Service in Seodaemun-gu on the morning of the 19th, expressing his position.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Previously, Jeong's son, who is enrolled at Kyungpook National University Medical School, was initially judged fit for active duty in the first military service evaluation in 2010, but after a re-examination five years later, he was reclassified as a social service agent (grade 4 supplementary service).

However, regarding the Democratic Party's demand for submission of medical imaging records related to the military service evaluation, the nominee's side effectively refused, citing 'personal information.'

The Health and Welfare Ministry nominee's confirmation hearing preparation team stated in an explanatory document that "MRI, CT, and other imaging records are highly personal medical information," and "The nominee's son is greatly concerned about these details being publicly disclosed and continuously circulated, leading to various evaluations and rumors without professional basis being spread among the general public."

They added, "All documents related to the nominee's son's military service, including various records and medical certificates, have been transparently submitted, but MRI images reveal the internal state of the body and are fundamentally different sensitive personal information compared to academic or medical records. The anxiety about such information being shared with unknown individuals is a fully understandable concern."

Meanwhile, the nominee's side proposed an alternative to undergo re-examination at a medical institution designated by the National Assembly, with the nominee's son bringing the MRI and CT data from that time, to allow verification while preventing personal information leakage.

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