Former Korean Medicine Hospital Director Sentenced to 2 Years for 'False Patient Recruitment'

"Temptation of Crime Due to Loan Debt and Minimum Wage Increase... Deep Reflection"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] A former oriental medicine hospital director who gained unfair profits by recruiting fake patients has been sentenced to prison.

On the morning of the 3rd, the prosecution requested a two-year prison sentence for Jeong Mo (44), a former oriental medicine hospital director indicted on charges including fraud, at the sentencing trial presided over by Judge Park Chan-woo of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 6.

The prosecution stated the reasons for the sentence request, saying, "He obtained unfair profits amounting to tens of millions of won, attempted to destroy evidence, and has a prior record of suspended prosecution."

For four others, including brokers who were also indicted on the same charges, the prosecution requested prison terms ranging from one year to one year and six months.

Jeong was charged with instructing four people, including oriental medicine doctors and an administrative director, to recruit fake patients, and providing approximately 400 million won in commissions over 299 occasions from May 6, 2015, to January 11, 2019.

In his final defense, Jeong's lawyer said, "He has loan debts and increased employee salary burdens due to minimum wage hikes, which led him to fall into the temptation of crime," adding, "He admits all charges and deeply reflects on his wrongdoing."

He also appealed for leniency, stating, "After undergoing surgery at a hospital in Seoul in 2017, he has not been able to live a normal life ideally."

It is reported that Jeong is currently working as a pay doctor at a hospital located in Gwangsan-gu and is repaying his debts.

The other four defendants also admitted to the charges and requested leniency from the court.

The sentencing date is scheduled for 2 p.m. on June 9.

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