It was reported that Lee Guk-jong, director of the Armed Forces Medical Command, expressed his intention to apologize to the Ministry of National Defense regarding comments made during a recent lecture to military medical officer candidates, in which he criticized the domestic medical system.
According to the Ministry of National Defense and others on the 21st, Director Lee contacted a Ministry of National Defense official after his comments spread primarily through online communities and were picked up by media reports, saying that he is sorry for the controversy that arose unintentionally. He was also reported to have said, 'I will be careful with my comments in the future and will fully carry out my duties as director of the Armed Forces Medical Command.'
Director Lee gave a lecture to military medicine candidates at the Chungbuk Goesan Military Academy on the 14th. During the lecture, he criticized the aversion to essential courses, conflicts within the medical community, and structural issues in large hospitals. He also made remarks such as, 'The Korean Peninsula is a country where only those who talk a lot benefit' and 'Since there is no hope in Korea, if you dislike the temple, just like a monk leaving, escape from Korea.'