"Government Can't Beat Doctors" Noh Hwan-gyu Police Summoned... '11 Hours 16 Minutes' Investigation

by Moon Chaeseok

Published 09 Mar.2024 21:29(KST)

"No Contact Between Resident Groups and Korean Medical Association"

No Hwan-gyu, former chairman of the Korea Medical Association (KMA) Emergency Response Committee, who is suspected of 'conspiring collective resignation of residents,' was summoned by the police on the 9th and underwent an intensive investigation for more than 11 hours.

The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency summoned former chairman Noh, who is suspected of instigating and aiding obstruction of business, to the Mapo-gu office and began questioning him from 10 a.m. that day.

Former chairman Noh appeared outside the office at 9:16 p.m., about 11 hours and 16 minutes later.

This investigation is the second inquiry into the current and former executives of the KMA, following Joo Su-ho, the KMA Emergency Response Committee’s Media and Public Relations Chair.

Noh, who has opposed the government’s policy to increase medical school admissions, stirred controversy by posting on his social network service (SNS) that "the government cannot defeat doctors."

Before appearing at the police station, around 9:40 a.m., he met with reporters in front of the office and denied the charges, saying, "As a senior doctor, I only expressed my concern for the residents on SNS and have never contacted any resident groups or the KMA."

Former President of the Korean Medical Association, Noh Hwan-gyu, is expressing his position before appearing at the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 9th to undergo police investigation regarding allegations of collective resignation conspiracy among residents.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Former chairman Noh and other current and former KMA executives are suspected of violating medical law by disobeying orders to commence work related to the 'collective departure of residents,' as well as instigating and aiding obstruction of business. Chairman Joo was questioned for about 10 hours after appearing before the police on the 6th.

KMA Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Taek-woo and Organization Strengthening Committee Chair Park Myung-ha are scheduled to appear at 10 a.m. on the 12th. Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Society, is also known to be appearing before the police on the same day.

Earlier, on the 27th of last month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare filed a complaint with the police against these five individuals and unidentified persons who posted inciting messages online.

On the 1st, the police conducted a search and seizure of the KMA and requested the Ministry of Justice to impose travel bans on four individuals excluding former chairman Noh. Noh was subjected to a search and seizure warrant at the airport immediately after returning on the 3rd.