The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    South Korea speeds up full-fledged deployment of US anti-missile battery

  • 3

    Kakao seeks to bolster SM's global presence as new owner

  • 5

    INTERVIEWHow ATEEZ achieved worldwide success

  • 7

    SK chief's estranged wife sues his new partner for compensation

  • 9

    Firstborns account for record-high 63% of newborns

  • 11

    Foreign minister hosts Iftar dinner for Muslims in Korea

  • 13

    Busan aims to win hearts of developing nations in Expo 2030 bid

  • 15

    Bank failures and rescue test Yellen's decades of experience

  • 17

    Samsung chief inspects production plants in China for first time in 3 years

  • 19

    Unrest on the Island of World Peace in 1903

  • 2

    Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance'

  • 4

    Actor Yoo Ah-in appears for questioning over alleged drug use

  • 6

    ANALYSISTesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK

  • 8

    4 young Nigerian siblings killed in house fire in Ansan

  • 10

    Apple Pay service limited by lack of NFC terminals

  • 12

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to apologize to victims of Gwangju massacre

  • 14

    Korean police search for 2 Kazakhstanis who fled airport

  • 16

    Yoo Ah-in appears before police over alleged use of illegal drugs

  • 18

    From mines to mobility: 140-year-old partnership between Germany and Korea

  • 20

    Cook praises China's innovation, long history of cooperation on China visit

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Tue, March 28, 2023 | 14:33
Asia
Doctor's death unleashes mourning, fury at Chinese officials
Posted : 2020-02-08 09:58
Updated : 2020-02-09 09:37
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A card with the portrait of Dr. Li Wenliang at Li's hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7. Li, regarded as a whistleblower on the coronavirus outbreak, died of a disease contracted because of the virus. He was one of the first to raise concerns about the outbreak in Wuhan, before contracting the virus himself. EPA
A card with the portrait of Dr. Li Wenliang at Li's hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7. Li, regarded as a whistleblower on the coronavirus outbreak, died of a disease contracted because of the virus. He was one of the first to raise concerns about the outbreak in Wuhan, before contracting the virus himself. EPA

The death of a young doctor who was reprimanded for warning about the new coronavirus outbreak in China triggered an outpouring of praise for him Friday, and fury that the communist authorities put politics above public safety.

In death, Dr. Li Wenliang became the face of simmering anger at the ruling Communist Party's control over information, and complaints that officials lie about or hide disease outbreaks, chemical spills, dangerous consumer products and financial fraud

The 34-year-old ophthalmologist died overnight at Wuhan Central Hospital, where he worked and likely contracted the virus while treating patients in the early days of the outbreak.

''A hero who released information about Wuhan's epidemic in the early stages, Dr. Li Wenliang is immortal,'' the China Center for Disease Control's chief scientist, Zeng Guang, wrote on the Sina Weibo microblog service.

Police had reprimanded eight doctors including Li in December for warning friends on social media about the emerging threat. China's Supreme Court later criticized the police, but the ruling party also has tightened its grip on information about the outbreak.

Weibo users have left hundreds of thousands of messages below Li's last post.

A post by one of Li's coworkers, an emergency room nurse, said the freezing Wuhan weather was ''as gloomy as my mood.''

''To you, we are angels and so strong. But how strong a heart can watch the people around me fall one by one without being shocked?'' wrote Li Mengping on her verified account.

Others placed the blame for the deaths on Chinese officials, not an animal species from where the virus might have spread, and said those who made trouble for the doctor should face consequences. The most pointed online comments were quickly deleted by censors.

The ruling party has faced similar accusations of bungling or thuggish behavior following previous disasters. They include the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a 2005 chemical spill that disrupted water supplies to millions of people in China's northeast, sales of tainted milk that sickened thousands of children and the failure of private finance companies after the global economic crisis.

In each case, officials were accused of trying to conceal or delay the release of information members of the public said they needed to protect themselves.

The party often responds by allowing the public to vent temporarily, then uses its control of media and the internet to stifle criticism. Critics who persist can be jailed on vague charges of spreading rumors or making trouble.

American dies of coronavirus in China
American dies of coronavirus in China
2020-02-08 17:51  |  World
Japanese with suspected coronavirus infection dies in China
Japanese with suspected coronavirus infection dies in China
2020-02-08 17:55  |  Asia
China's Communist Party faces anger and recriminations over virus
China's Communist Party faces anger and recriminations over virus
2020-02-08 10:38  |  Asia
China virus death toll rises to 722 with 31,774 cases
China virus death toll rises to 722 with 31,774 cases
2020-02-08 10:02  |  Health & Science
On the streets of Beijing, the capital, residents expressed sadness and said that China should learn from Li.

''He was such a nice person, but still didn't pull through,'' said Ning Yanqing. ''Those left do not dare to speak out. Alas, I don't know what to say.''

Some online comments Friday hinted at broader dissatisfaction with the party and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has tightened controls on society since taking power in 2012.

The most powerful Chinese leader since at least the 1980s, Xi gave himself the option of remaining president for life by changing China's Constitution in 2018 to remove a two-term limit.

Referring to one of Xi's propaganda initiatives, a message that circulated on social media said, ''My 'Chinese Dream' is broken.''

In Wuhan, local leaders were accused of telling doctors in December not to publicize the spread of the virus in order to avoid casting a shadow over the annual meeting of a local legislative body.

As the virus spread, doctors were ordered to delete posts on social media that appealed for donations of medical supplies. This prompted complaints that the authorities were more worried about their image than public safety.

Li was detained by police after warning about the virus on a social media group for his former classmates.

The latest episode is unusually awkward for the ruling party because Li was a physician, part of a group who are regarded as overworked and underpaid heroes, and are China's line of defense against a frightening new disease.

''He showed a responsible attitude toward society,'' said Cai Lin, a Beijing resident. ''He was honest and faithful. So I think all of society should reflect on this.''

The World Health Organization, which has complimented China's response to the outbreak, said in a tweet that ''We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Li Wenliang. We all need to celebrate work that he did on the virus.'

The official propaganda apparatus tried Friday to mollify the public.

''Some of Li Wenliang's experiences during his life reflect shortcomings and deficiencies in epidemic prevention and control,'' said state television on its website.

Chinese Ambassador to Washington Cui Tiankai said on Twitter, a service the ruling party's internet censorship blocks the public from seeing, ''Really saddened by the death of Dr. Li Wenliang. He was a very devoted doctor. We are so grateful to him for what he has done in our joint efforts fighting against #2019nCoV.''

The government announced a team from Beijing would be sent to Wuhan to investigate ''issues reported by the masses involving Dr. Li Wenliang.'' (AP)


 
Top 10 Stories
1[ANALYSIS] Tesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK ANALYSISTesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK
2Yoo Ah-in appears before police over alleged use of illegal drugs Yoo Ah-in appears before police over alleged use of illegal drugs
3US aircraft carrier to visit Busan amid NK provocationsUS aircraft carrier to visit Busan amid NK provocations
4Korean crypto investors want Do Kwon punished in US Korean crypto investors want Do Kwon punished in US
5Families of foreign construction workers can receive retirement pay: court Families of foreign construction workers can receive retirement pay: court
6Gimpo-China flights recover to pre-pandemic levels Gimpo-China flights recover to pre-pandemic levels
7Indonesian investment minister promotes EV cooperation with Korea Indonesian investment minister promotes EV cooperation with Korea
8Nongshim plans to build plant in eastern US region Nongshim plans to build plant in eastern US region
9Right-wing Japanese support Seoul-Tokyo ties: Korean envoy to Japan Right-wing Japanese support Seoul-Tokyo ties: Korean envoy to Japan
10Local bank stocks hit by shockwaves from SVB, CS collapses Local bank stocks hit by shockwaves from SVB, CS collapses
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance' Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance'
2[INTERVIEW] How ATEEZ achieved worldwide success INTERVIEWHow ATEEZ achieved worldwide success
3Will April releases revive Korean cinema? Films to look out for in April Will April releases revive Korean cinema? Films to look out for in April
4Dreams come true: TXT mesmerizes 21,000 fans at KSPO Dome Dreams come true: TXT mesmerizes 21,000 fans at KSPO Dome
5'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group