[칼럼] Korea Story 30 - Society and Welfare 6 by Atty Jeong-kee Kim

(NewsKorea=Seoul) Digital News Team = Korea Story 30 - <Society and Welfare 6  by Atty Jeong-kee Kim>

● I miss doctors who practice medical justice.

What is the value of doctors in Korea? 
Why is there no figure like Albert Schweitzer, the beacon of humanity, in Korea? 
Though, if I must mention one, there is Jong-wook Lee, often referred to as the "Asian Schweitzer."

One day, Schweitzer witnessed the suffering of the poor and took a moment of self-reflection,and realized he had been living a life of comfort while others suffered. His conclusion was that he should live the rest of his life altruistically. He gave up his life as a scholar, believed that what Africa needed most was medical service, and became a medical doctor later in life, heading to Africa. He crossed over to Lambaréné in French Equatorial Africa (now Lambaréné, Moyen-Ogooué Province, Gabon), which was little known in Europe at the time, and began providing medical services to black patients. Despite the lack of medicine and the poor environment, his dedicated medical activities restored the health of many people, and led the native people to praise him as a "wizard." Unlike the hypocritical behavior of Europeans towards the native black people at the time, Schweitzer was more faithful than anyone else to the teachings of Christianity, which he believed in and followed. That is, he followed the teaching of Jesus, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Thus, he ascended to the ranks of the saints of humanity, particularly in the primeval forests, and shared the great power of love with humanity, bringing them happiness.

Jong-wook Lee reportedly cared for leprosy patients during his time at Seoul National University College of Medicine. Leprosy is a disease that causes flesh to rot away, so many feared contracting it. Nevertheless, he believed that doctors should not avoid patients and took care of them with utmost devotion. After studying in the United States, he chose to provide medical care rather than train future doctors, heading to Samoa, an island nation in the South Pacific. There, he became the "family doctor" of the Samoan natives by treating patients every day without fail. Later, people called him the "Asian Schweitzer." He was then asked to work for the World Health Organization (WHO), a request he accepted. He embarked on a new dream to eradicate polio, a disease that was too expensive for poor children to receive vaccinations for, and to eliminate tuberculosis by creating an international pharmaceutical organization that purchased large quantities of medicine at affordable prices to distribute to countries in need. His goal was to create a world where both rich and poor people could live healthy and happy lives. His sacrifices and dedication earned him the position of Director General of the WHO. His life motto as a medical doctor is a golden saying that today's Korean doctors should deeply engrave in their hearts: "If you think it's right, act on it immediately. The only thing to worry about is whether this work is right and for humanity. If you think you should do something right, start it now."

Let’s take a closer look at the state of Korean doctors today. What comes to mind when you think of them? In a society driven by crass capitalism, they are individuals who, after passing a single competitive exam and undergoing professional training, dedicate the rest of their lives to maximizing personal profit. Reduced to wealth-chasing figures, they are so consumed with accumulating money that they have no time to engage in social activities that promote meaningful values. As a result, they miss out on the sense of fulfillment that comes from a balanced life. They are essentially money-making machines, confined to their clinics for the sake of their families, often ignoring the principles of the Hippocratic Oath. Am I the only one who sees in these doctors not the dignity of the "Seonbi" (Confucian scholars) of the Joseon Dynasty but rather the technical proficiency of the "Jungin" (middle people) from that era?

I have witnessed the nobility and sense of responsibility in American doctors practicing Noblesse Oblige, the commitment and sacrifice of British doctors leading public healthcare, and the professional spirit of Chinese doctors maintaining their craft, even when they were regarded as middle-class professionals similar to the "Jungin" in Korea’s past. Yet, Korean doctors do not fit into any of these categories.

Recently, there has been a surge in interest in pursuing medical education in Korea. This is a troubling sign for the nation. In countries like the United States, Japan, Germany, and China, talented individuals in the sciences gravitate toward fields such as pure sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics) or applied sciences (semiconductor engineering, computer engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering, industrial engineering) that drive the future of core industries and economic growth in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. But why does Korea deviate from this trend? Could it be that capitalism is so deeply ingrained that materialism dominates? The country's future can only be secured if top talents form the backbone of productive, forward-looking industries. Yet, many of them aspire to become medical doctors—a profession with near-zero contribution to industrial productivity—solely for personal wealth and family status? How did Korea, once a "land of Seonbi" (Confucian scholars), become a "land of Ajeon" (local petty officials)?

A long time ago, a decision was made to replace the undergraduate College of Medicine system with a Graduate Medical School system to address certain issues. However, unlike the Law School system, which is government-led, the Medical School system was left to the discretion of each College of Medicine. This resulted in a hybrid system where undergraduate Colleges of Medicine and graduate Medical Schools coexist, setting the stage for failure. I believe the collective self-interest of doctors and strong lobbying played a role in this outcome. Why does the United States maintain a Medical School system? It’s widely recognized that American doctors are among the most competitive in the world, likely because they are trained through a rigorous curriculum rather than a single exam. By going through undergraduate education, future doctors are shaped with the right character, enriched by a broad liberal arts education, which fosters a deeper understanding and compassion for humanity, essential qualities for medical professionals.

It's not too late to rectify this. The government should once again push for the full implementation of the Medical School system. If this proves unfeasible, there is an alternative: the establishment of a Public Medical School system. This would involve setting up graduate public medical schools in four major metropolitan regions outside of the Seoul Metropolitan Area: KAIST (for Daejeon and Chungcheong), DGIST (for Daegu and Gyeongbuk), GIST (for Gwangju and Honam), and UNIST (for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam). Each institution would be equipped with top-tier general hospitals, comparable to Seoul National University Hospital, to prevent the migration of medical residents to Seoul. This approach would also create competition with existing undergraduate Colleges of Medicine.

If 1,000 students are trained annually (200 of whom would be future medical scientists), in 30 years, this system would produce 24,000 public doctors and 6,000 medical scientists. After obtaining their licenses, if these doctors serve as public health physicians in their respective regions for 10 years and then continue practicing there for another 10 years, they will naturally become rooted in those communities. The benefits would be significant. First, it would encourage a sense of public duty among the current group of doctors, many of whom overlook the responsibility of Noblesse Oblige. Second, by establishing a robust national medical safety net, the disadvantaged, who are often neglected by the profit-driven medical system, would gain access to essential services, helping to correct severe imbalances in healthcare. Isn’t this the embodiment of compassionate conservatism? Moreover, it would mean that the state is finally fulfilling its fundamental responsibilities to its citizens.

I hope that in the future, Korea will produce hundreds of Schweitzers and Jong-wook Lees. I look forward to the day when they become the vanguard of practicing medical justice in Korea and are sent out into the world to serve as evangelists who share happiness with humanity.

☆ Author:  Atty Jeong-kee Kim ☆

● Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook
-  Doctor of Jurisprudence, Marquette University Law School
- Senior Executive Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Research Scholar in North Korean Studies, Peking University

● Experience
- Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai
- Commissioner General for the Korean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
- CEO, Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development (CityNet)
- Secretary General, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization(WeGO)
- Law Clerk, Milwaukee Circuit Court, USA
- Senior Attorney-at-Law, Dr & Aju LLC
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Nanjing University
- Research Professor, Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University
- Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University
- Chair Professor, Graduate School of Business, Dongguk University
- First President of Soongsil Cyber University

● Publications
- Georo English Studies Series for College Students [10 volumes] (Georo Publishing)
- I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent (Chosun Ilbo)
- The Art of Negotiation (Cheongnyonneongsin Publishing)
- Korea and the World (Chekmidum Publishing)