President of Pediatric and Adolescent Medical Association Arrested for 'Silencing' at Medical Reform Debate

President Im Hyuntaek dragged out of medical reform debate hall
Transferred to Bundang Police Station and investigated for about 5 hours
"Security guards covered my mouth and dragged me out," he claims

Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Society, was reportedly dragged out on charges of refusal to leave during a government-hosted medical reform public forum, sparking controversy.

At the Medical Reform Public Discussion, Im Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Pediatric Society, is seen being dragged out on charges of refusing to leave.
[Photo by Im Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Pediatric Society]

On the 21st, Newsis reported that the Bundang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province had booked Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Society, on charges of refusal to leave on the 1st and was investigating the case. At the time, Im visited the 'Medical Reform to Save Lives and Communities' public forum held at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital to present opinions related to the essential medical package but was dragged out by security guards. He was subsequently arrested, transferred to Bundang Police Station, and interrogated for about 4 to 5 hours.

Videos of the incident show three men, presumed to be security guards, covering Im’s mouth to prevent him from speaking. According to reports, Im stated, "I thought there were problems with the essential medical package policy released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare the day before the forum, so I went to the forum." He claimed, "When I told the security guards that I came to convey my intentions as someone familiar with the medical field, they immediately said 'No' and covered my mouth before dragging me out." Im was booked on the 1st and is currently under investigation. However, it was understood that Im was not an intended participant of the public forum that day.

A witness, Mr. A, said, "It looked like an arrest of a suspect caught in the act," and criticized, "The security guards linked arms on both sides of Im and covered his mouth before dragging him out. The government ignored the cries of essential medical doctors on site."

Earlier, on the 20th, Im posted a statement titled "The government should withdraw the wrong policies and stop undemocratic oppression" on his social media. Im criticized, "The government announced the essential medical policy package and the plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 at the beginning of February," adding, "The policies are full of proposals such as reforming the payment system that increases the burden on citizens, banning mixed billing of non-reimbursable items, introducing medical and clinic licenses, extending intern training periods, and opening the cosmetic market, all under the guise of offering the best medical care." He warned, "The government announced the absurd number of 2,000 for medical school admissions. The avoidance of essential medical care is worsening year by year. Even if the number of doctors increases, nothing will change unless issues like low medical fees and medical lawsuits are addressed first. Increasing medical school admissions will only lead to higher medical costs for the public without solving the fundamental problems of essential medical care."

The government and the Korean Medical Association are in a tug-of-war over the 'Medical Reform Package'

Joo Suho, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee's Public Relations Committee of the Korean Medical Association, speaking at the regular briefing of the Emergency Response Committee held at the KMA Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Choi Taewon, Asia Economy]

Earlier, on the 1st, the 8th public forum hosted by President Yoon Suk-yeol was titled 'Medical Reform to Save Lives and Communities.' On that day, the government announced the essential medical package, pledged to expand medical personnel, and strengthen regional healthcare. They also stated plans to introduce a special law system for medical accidents, securing a safety net for medical accidents that had been insufficient, and to establish various compensation systems for essential medical fields.

In response, residents from the so-called 'Big 5' hospitals (Seoul National University, Severance, Samsung Seoul, Seoul Asan, and Seoul St. Mary’s) began work stoppage starting at 6 a.m. on the 20th. The government warned that residents who do not comply with orders to resume work and leave their posts would face license suspension and prosecution. The Korean Medical Association’s Emergency Committee criticized the government’s response to the residents leaving hospitals, stating, "The government’s fundamental oppression has now spread to an irrational level. While the public’s right to life is naturally precious, doctors’ freedom to choose their profession must also be respected as a basic right of the people. If one doctor is oppressed, 1,000 doctors will give up their profession, and if that number grows, all doctors in Korea will give up being doctors," they warned.

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