Health minister nominee steps into scandals

Minister of Health and Welfare nominee Chung Ho-young addresses reporters at a press conference held at the National Medical Center in Jung District, central Seoul on Sunday. [WOO SANG-JO]

Minister of Health and Welfare nominee Chung Ho-young is facing allegations of misdeeds involving his children’s university admissions and son's exemption from military service and members of the People Power Party are calling for him to abandon the nomination.

Rep. Ha Tae-kyung and Rep. Kim Yong-tae of the PPP both called for Chung’s resignation Monday.

In a press conference Sunday, Chung addressed the allegations surrounding two of his children’s admissions to a medical school and his son’s exemption from active-duty military service due to medical issues.

“There was no possible way to use my social position for the advantage of my children, and there was no wrongful act committed,” Chung said.

He called for a thorough investigation of the allegations.

But at the press conference Chung did not provide any evidence to disprove any allegations, such as his son’s medical records.

According to press accounts, Chung’s daughter and son transferred to Kyungpook National University School of Medicine in 2017 and 2018, respectively, when he was president of Kyungpook National University Hospital. In an admissions interview that Chung’s daughter did in 2017, all three professors sitting as judges were Chung’s friends, reports have said. Chung’s daughter got a perfect score on the interview.

“I have never told other professors about my children’s applications,” Chung said Sunday. “There are about 50 judges in total for the admissions committee, and since they are randomly assigned on the day of the interview, it is a fair playing field and solicitation is impossible.”

But according to press reports, the only candidate to receive full scores from that set of judges was Chung’s daughter.

As for Chung’s son’s military service, the Korean military classifies draftees into six levels, in which the first three levels are able men fit for military service. Chung’s son’s physical examination results in 2010 initially classified him on Level 2. But after an examination at Kyungpook National University Hospital - where his father was president - his results were changed to Level 4, according to press reports.

According to medical records submitted by Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Hye-young on Sunday from Kyungpook National University Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Chung’s son visited Kyungpook National University Hospital in September 2013 with a pain in the left thigh. In January 2014, Chung’s son visited the hospital with the same symptoms and received drug treatment. However, there is no record of hospital visits for 22 months after that.

On Oct. 27, 2015, Chung’s son visited Kyungpook National University Hospital again. The medical certificate issued for military examination stated on Oct. 29, 2015 that “Patient is waiting follow-up after being diagnosed with a herniated disc in the 5th to 6th lumbar vertebrae.” On Nov. 6, Chung’s son was diagnosed with a “spine disease” during a second physical examination at Daegu Gyeongbuk Regional Military Manpower Administration and deemed a Level 4 draftee, eligible for a desk job instead of active-duty service.

Chung's son completed his military service by working at a desk job instead of active-duty service.

It was also notable that Chung’s son only spent about 150,000 won for medical expenses over the past five years, according to press accounts, suggesting a good level of health.

Bae Hyun-jin, spokesperson for president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, said, “We are watching the situation carefully, and waiting for the confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.” Despite the controversy and some within the People Power Party calling for his resignation, Chung is going ahead with the hearing.

The controversy surrounding Chung’s children is reminiscent of Cho Kuk, the former Justice Minister who only served for 36 days because of scandal about his daughter's admissions to college and medical school. Cho's wife Chung Kyung-shim was convicted of fraud for her role in their daughter’s admission to medical school and is serving four years in jail.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]