The quiet rhythm of clinical care at Severance Hospital in Seoul was violently disrupted when a psychiatrist was subjected to a targeted knife attack. The assailant, a woman in her 50s, inflicted injuries to the doctor's face and hands, leaving the medical community in shock. Police quickly placed the woman under emergency arrest to begin their investigation.
While the initial response by law enforcement focused on the immediate physical harm caused to the victim, the investigation has since intensified. Authorities are now actively investigating the suspect for attempted murder, reflecting the gravity with which the state views violence directed at medical professionals within their place of work.
The Korean Medical Association (KMA)—the nation's largest representative body for doctors—addressed the attack, stating that the current approach to hospital safety is failing. The KMA argued that the government and the National Assembly have relied too heavily on 'patching things up' by focusing on punitive measures after a crime has already occurred. Instead, the association is demanding a pivot toward preventive security infrastructure, including the installation of metal detectors and the presence of security personnel who are physically stationed near medical staff.
The association emphasized that it is 'virtually impossible' to prevent sudden, violent attacks unless security is positioned in immediate proximity to the staff.
While the Medical Service Act currently mandates security requirements for institutions with 100 beds or more, the KMA contends that these regulations are insufficient in practice. The association emphasized that it is 'virtually impossible' to prevent sudden, violent attacks unless security is positioned in immediate proximity to the staff. For the KMA, the goal is not merely to punish offenders after the fact, but to create an environment where medical professionals do not feel 'intimidated' by the constant threat of violence while performing their duties.