Police to summon doctors' group officials over strike by trainee doctors

Jo Ji-ho, head of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, speaks at the Yeoui-daero, Seoul, March 3. Yonhap

Police said Monday they have asked five incumbent and former officials of the Korea Medical Association (KMA) to appear before investigators this week for questioning over the ongoing strike by trainee doctors.

The officials asked to come to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency between Wednesday and Thursday are Kim Taek-woo, chief of the KMA's emergency committee; Joo Su-ho, spokesperson of the KMA emergency committee; Park Myung-ha, chief of the KMA emergency committee's organizational affairs; Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Association; and former KMA President Noh Hwan-gyu.

Police already banned the four officials of the KMA emergency committee from leaving the country and are planning to impose an exit ban on Noh.

Last Friday, police investigators raided the KMA emergency committee and Kim's residence after the government's back-to-work order for the striking trainee doctors expired the previous day. They additionally raided Noh's mobile phone and car on Sunday.

The police probe came after the health ministry filed a complaint against the five officials on multiple charges, including a possible violation of the medical law. (Yonhap)