"Reality of Medical Doctor Enlistment: Holes in Military Medical System"
Recently, Lee Kuk-jong, the head of the National Defense Hospital, made a blunt statement urging to “escape from South Korea” during a lecture for military medical officer candidates, and this time he offered pointed criticism on the overall military medical system.
He emphasized the efficient operation of South Korea's medical resources and directly criticized the structural problems within the military medical system.
In a video released on the Korea Defense Research Institute’s YouTube channel on the 21st, the hospital director stated, “I believe it is only natural for someone who becomes a doctor to serve as a military officer. However, currently, even within our unit, doctors come in as private soldiers. In this structure, it is virtually impossible to assign responsibilities as a doctor.”
He explained that due to legal and institutional limitations, doctors who are enlisted as soldiers cannot be held accountable, and there is a prevailing atmosphere where they only want to perform simple tasks and finish their service quickly.
"Need for a Reserve-Centered System like Advanced Countries"
As an alternative to these issues, the hospital director proposed a U.S.-style reserve-centered medical system. He reflected, “When I started my life as a military doctor, my mentor was someone who had gone on four deployments. He saved injured soldiers by helicopter from aircraft carriers to forward bases.”
He continued, “Military medicine is not fundamentally different. There is not much difference from how civilian patients are treated, and advanced military medicine is possible through organic linkage with civilians.” He added, “It is necessary to embrace the well-performing civilian sector in the military and to break down barriers.”
"Military Medicine Must Be Viewed as National Medical Resource"
The hospital director also warned about the widespread manpower shortage due to the declining population. He mentioned, “Korea is facing a population extinction crisis. The resources for soldiers, officers, pilots, doctors, and nurses are all dwindling,” and stated, “Now we must consider ways to operate medical resources efficiently.”
He pointed out, “If each government department creates separate hospitals and military medicine and civilian medicine are divided, systematic management becomes difficult,” emphasizing that “except for the very few military medical personnel performing special missions, all medical assets should be viewed at a national level.”
He further added, “The way of developing military medicine in isolation has clear limits in reality.”
Earlier, the hospital director sparked controversy during a lecture for military medical officer candidates at a training center in Goesan, Chungbuk, with his harsh remarks like “There is no hope in South Korea,” and “This country is run by those who only talk and get away with it.” Upon the revelation of his comments, he expressed his regret on the 21st to the Ministry of Defense representative, stating his intention had been to encourage military doctors, but the outcome was regrettable.
Image source: Professor Lee Kuk-jong / News1, YouTube 'SBS Pick!', Photo = Insight
