Police question president of doctors’ association over instigating walkout by trainee doctors

The head of the country's biggest doctors' association appeared before police Thursday for another round of questioning over suspicions of instigating a mass walkout by trainee doctors. Lim Hyun-taek, the president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), appeared before the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's office in the district of Mapo and dismissed the allegations raised against him and other KMA leaders. "Not just members of the doctor community, but all of the people know the trainee doctors have done nothing wrong," Lim told the press upon arrival at the police station at around 10 a.m. "This also applies to the offenses and allegations raised against former and current leaders of the doctors' association, including myself," he added. Lim declined to answer further questions and entered the building. Police launched an investigation into the case in February following a complaint filed by the health ministry accusing the leaders of the KMA of instigating the ongoing mass walkout by thousands of tra inee doctors to protest against the government's plan to raise the medical school quota by 2,000 seats. In March, police sent investigators to search some offices of the KMA leaders and questioned six officials on charges of obstruction of business and instigating the collective action by trainee doctors. Lim attended police questioning on one occasion earlier this month, but he returned home in less than an hour after refusing to be questioned. Police summoned him again for further interrogation on Thursday. Source: Yonhap News Agency