'Can't Beat Doctors' Former KMA President, This Time Says "What Made You Confident to Challenge 2,000 People?"

Former President of the Korean Medical Association, Noh Hwan-gyu, sharply criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, asking, "What on earth did you base the decision to increase the number of doctors by 2,000 on?" and urged them to stop 'demonizing doctors.' Noh is the figure who stirred controversy by posting on social networking services (SNS) that "the government cannot defeat doctors."

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]

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On the 13th, Noh posted on Facebook, "Following the demonization of residents, the government has begun demonizing medical school professors nationwide," adding, "It might be a desperate move. It seems like the government is struggling after playing its last card." He pointed out, "The public may criticize medical school professors, but they will also criticize the government that stubbornly insists on increasing the number by 2,000 and refuses to back down."

He continued, "The newspapers siding with Yongsan continue to write biased articles until the end. I wonder if they realize that this only worsens the situation." He added, "The government cannot punish residents or medical school professors, so why have they been threatening them? It seems the government is only now realizing their mistake."

Noh stated, "The government must devise an exit strategy," and "I believe they will eventually back down under the pretext of 'for the people.' At the same time, (the media) will further demonize doctors to evade their own responsibility."

Finally, Noh said, "But will doctors, who have been called 'demons,' obediently come back? Even if the government says to return as they start re-discussions from scratch, a significant number of wounded doctors will not come back." He added, "The Yongsan policy, which began with the aim of saving essential medical care, has produced the opposite result. Yet, even now, they do not fully realize this fact. They continue to place all the blame on the doctors."

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]

원본보기 아이콘

Earlier, Noh had stirred controversy by posting on SNS, "The government cannot defeat doctors. The very idea that they thought they could defeat doctors is absurdly foolish." Recently, he was also investigated by the police on suspicion of inciting collective action among residents.

Meanwhile, the government is taking a tough stance, stating that it will deal with not only residents who have left medical sites but also medical school professors who have mentioned the possibility of collective resignation, according to law and principles. Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said at a briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held at the Government Sejong Complex, "Resigning to prevent disadvantages to one's students cannot be a reason for resignation," adding, "Basically, they are medical professionals subject to the Medical Service Act and can be subject to various orders."

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