“Medical Helicopters Are Not for Doctor Shopping” Gyeongnam Medical Association Expresses ‘Anger’ at Representative Lee Jae-myung

"Medical helicopters were not created to facilitate doctor shopping."

The Gyeongnam Medical Association criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for being transported by fire department helicopter from Busan National University Hospital to Seoul National University Hospital after being stabbed with a knife.

On the 5th, the association issued a statement condemning Lee and the Democratic Party as "hypocritical behavior."

"Medical care, an absolute requirement to protect the lives and health of the people, the nation's greatest responsibility, has been reduced to a tool of politics," they said, adding, "As an expert organization responsible for one pillar of regional medical care, we cannot hide our dismay at this medical reality."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was attacked during his visit to Busan, is being transported from the Nodul Island helipad in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to Seoul National University Hospital.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

They stated, "Just two weeks ago, the Democratic Party unilaterally passed the law establishing a public medical school in the form of a medical school, which had already been proven a failure, and the law introducing the regional doctor system, which cannot even guarantee the quality of education," and questioned, "Then why did the legislators themselves choose to go to Seoul, stained with loopholes and privileges?"

"We are dismayed by such thoughtless behavior that does not even uphold the minimum responsibility and conscience as a political party," they said, pointing out, "At the very time the helicopter was carrying Lee, ordinary citizens who truly needed the helicopter may have died shedding tears of blood."

The association expressed anger at the Democratic Party and Lee's disregard for the emergency medical system and regional medical care, emphasizing, "Remember that only sincere policies for the people, not shallow political calculations, can gain the people's choice."

Earlier, on the 2nd, Lee was stabbed with a knife at the Gadeok New Airport site in Gangseo-gu, Busan, and was transferred to Busan National University Hospital before being transported by helicopter to Seoul National University Hospital for surgery.

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