KMA, "Anger Over Search and Seizure... Will Raise Voices for Freedom"

Joo Su-ho, Chairman of the Korean Medical Association Emergency Committee's Public Relations Committee, States Position on Search and Seizure [Photo by Yonhap News]

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The Korea Medical Association (KMA), which was subjected to a police search and seizure, has protested, stating that it "will resist for freedom and raise its voice."

In a statement on the same day, the KMA Emergency Response Committee said, "The police carried out a search and seizure on the leadership of the KMA Emergency Response Committee and forcibly delivered work commencement orders to 13 residents," adding, "The 140,000 doctors have realized that they are not recognized as free citizens in the Republic of Korea."

They also strongly condemned the government’s suppression of freedom and human rights, emphasizing that the root of the March 1st Movement spirit is freedom.

The committee claimed, "Posting work commencement orders on the website to force labor on residents who have no hospitals to return to due to resignation or contract termination clearly confirms that doctors in Korea cannot enjoy freedom."

They continued, "We cannot contain our anger at the government's absurd behavior of falsely accusing the KMA Emergency Response Committee of instigating voluntary resignation letters submitted by residents and labeling actions taken to help residents, who are also KMA members, as collective action instigation and aiding."

The committee addressed the public, stating, "Doctors must make every effort to be recognized as free citizens," and added, "In the process, we may cause some inconvenience to the public."

They then urged the doctor members, saying, "We stand at the edge of a cliff with no place to retreat," and proposed, "Let us gather in Yeouido on March 3 to shout out our grievances and let our voices of hope be heard throughout the Republic of Korea."

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Public Crime Investigation Unit executed search warrants on current and former KMA executives on the morning of the same day. Investigators were dispatched to the Emergency Response Committee office inside the KMA building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the Seoul Medical Association office, and the Gangwon Medical Association office to secure related materials such as mobile phones and PCs of current and former KMA executives.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare publicly delivered work commencement orders via the website and other means to 13 residents who were unreachable among those engaged in collective action, indicating that administrative and judicial measures against the residents are imminent.

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