[Editorial] Threatening Opponent of Separation Policy?

Rep. Yoon Han-Do of the opposing Grand National Party yesterday asserted that the government had denounced the opponents of the clinic-pharmacy separation and the combined health insurance policies as anti-reformists and had removed them from their office.

Rep. Yoon claimed that the government had illegally tracked the accounts of Kim Jong-Dae, the former director of the planning and management office of the Health and Welfare Ministry, and of his relatives as well under the pretext of the police investigation. Mr. Kim who had opposed to the government health policies was allegedly forced to resign from his office. Rep. Yoon claimed that the government had conciliate Mr. Kim with a honorary retirement allowance and a vice presidential seat of an affiliated organization of the Ministry, if Mr. Kim had resigned voluntarily, after his retirement and at the same time the government had threatened him with the dismissal by authority. But Mr. Kim did not accept the offer, Rep. Yoon insisted, and he was discharged with no reason in June 1999.

Responding to the Rep. Yoon, the Health and Welfare Ministry refuted that the claim of Rep. Yoon distorted the fact. The account tracking was performed to investigate the misappropriation of the research funds of the Korea Food & Drug Administration, where Mr. Kim had worked. And therefore, the investigation had nothing to do with the matter of the clinic-pharmacy separation policy. And the Ministry explained that then HW Minister Cha Heung-Bong, who was enthusiastic for the new policy, might have persuaded some opposing officials to retire in honor.

It seems to early to know who is honest but it seems certain that the account of Mr. Kim was inspected and some disputes about the human management brought about then.

If the claim turns out true, the justice of the decision and process of the medical reformation will be questioned again. It could mean that the government so much rushed to the medical reformation, which was a promise of the presidential campaign, that they had ignored the voices of the working groups.

The Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea requested the reprimand of the 7 working officials, placing the responsibility for the ill management of the medical reformation on them. It is understandable that the government officials have complained, `if you oppose an established policy, you will be expelled, if you follow it, you will be reprimanded.`` The government should not cover up the truth, rather must reveal the truth for the future lesson of the policymakings.