'Dr. Car Boarding Controversy' Shin Hyun-young, Democratic Party Lawmaker, Sent to Prosecution

Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea suspected of providing an excuse for delayed arrival at the scene by boarding the 'Doctor Car' dispatched to the Itaewon disaster site, has been handed over to the prosecution.

Shin Hyun-young, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the police on the 1st, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent Shin, who is accused of violating the Emergency Medical Service Act, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 26th of last month.

Shin, a doctor by profession, is suspected of boarding the emergency dispatch vehicle of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) at Myongji Hospital, where she worked, midway on October 29 last year during the Itaewon disaster, causing a delay in the vehicle's arrival at the scene.

Shin explained that she went to perform emergency medical activities, but left the scene 15 minutes after arrival by riding in the official car of Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare. During her time at the scene, she took several photos, which further intensified the controversy.

Earlier, Lee Jong-bae, a Seoul city council member from the People Power Party, and the People's Livelihood Countermeasure Committee filed a complaint against Shin in December last year on charges including abuse of authority, obstruction of official duties, coercion, and violation of the Emergency Medical Service Act. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency subsequently assigned the case to the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit and began an investigation.

Meanwhile, charges of abuse of authority, obstruction of official duties, and coercion, aside from the violation of the Emergency Medical Service Act, were not forwarded for prosecution.

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