SEOUL, A doctors’ group filed a complaint against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Monday, claiming he unfairly used an emergency helicopter to move from the southeastern city of Busan to Seoul when the knife wound he sustained was not serious enough for such an airlift.

Lee, the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), was stabbed in the neck with a camping knife during a visit to the southeastern port city of Busan last week.

He was immediately transported to Pusan National University Hospital and underwent emergency treatment for the laceration. Shortly thereafter, he was airlifted by helicopter to Seoul National University Hospital, where he received surgery to repair a major vein in his neck.

Accusing Lee of obstructing the businesses of the two hospitals and violating the emergency medical service law, the Korean Pediatric Association filed a complaint against the opposition leader with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, as well as two other DP lawmakers.

The doctors’ group accused Lee
of unfairly using helicopter transportation when he was not in an emergency situation, saying Lee’s request to use an emergency helicopter constitutes an abuse of his power toward medical workers and a demand for preferential treatment.

The group also accused Lee of “cutting in line” for those waiting for medical treatment and surgery.

Other medical associations have previously voiced similar complaints, with the Busan Medical Association accusing Lee of “disregarding” the regional medical system of Busan and the inter-hospital patient transfer process.

The surgeon who operated on Lee at Seoul National University Hospital has said Lee’s inter-hospital transfer conformed with the regular process, and he was in a medical situation requiring surgery by an experienced surgeon.

Source: Yonhap News Agency