Prosecutors turn hard-line on medical strike

On Wednesday, the Seoul District Prosecutor`s Office stated that it will send out arrest warrants soon for the "committee for regaining medical rights," a hard-line advance guard of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), -- which is leading an uncompromising strike resulting in mass closures of hospitals and clinics -- and some leading figures of the ¡°emergency countermeasure committee¡± of Korean Intern Resident Association, and will arrest them.

The prosecutor¡¯s office will watch medical circles` response to the Ministry of Health and Welfare`s statement of resolute moves against, and releases from offices of, specialized doctors leading the cessation of business. And, after that, in case the cessation is continued, the Office plans to heighten its judiciary processing of key leaders with arrest order activation and others. The prosecutor¡¯s office stated that it plans to first arrest around 10 leaders of KMA`s advance-guard committee whom the Seoul Yongsan Police Station had notified of their subpoena but are not responding. The prosecutor¡¯s office is also studying the plan to openly issue an order to search for Shin Sang-Jin, head of the KMA`s advance-guard committee, who is presently hiding out, and 6 other key leaders for whom advance arrest warrants had been issued.