It’s not just outside the groups that are calling for Greenland International Hospital’s license to be revoked. Some provincial council members are, too. Mike Balfour reports.
The Greenland International Hospital was approved last year as the nation's first for-profit investor-owned hospital on the condition that the scope of patients that the hospital can treat is limited to non-Koreans.

The hospital hasn't opened yet.

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Most medical staff quit at Greenland International Hospital

Nine doctors and about 70 nurses and nursing assistants who had been hired have quit among 130 hired medical workers.

Most of the remaining workers are taking a leave of absence.

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Business license can be revoked through public hearing

According to the nation's Medical Law, the hospital's medical business license can be revoked through a public hearing if it fails to begin its business within 90 days after the business approval is made.

The Health, Welfare and Safety Committee of the provincial council asked the province to nullify the business license issued to the hospital.

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Council’s health committee questions provincial officials

The committee says that it cannot see any sign that the hospital will open.

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‘No sign of opening...license should be revoked’

Therefore, it adds that the province should hold a public hearing next month as scheduled.

Recording
Kim Gyeong-mi / Provincial council member
The hospital opening is just around the corner, and it doesn't even have any doctors. We have the right to pose questions about the opening preparations and inspect them, and even to cancel the business license.
<씽크:김경미/제주도의회 의원>
"영리병원 개원을 코 앞에 두고 이렇게 부실하게 의사도 없는 경우 보면 우리가 지도점검을 가서 충분히 문제제기 할 수 있고 개설허가 취소할 수 있는 자격도 우리에게 있습니다."

The province announced that it will closely look at situation at the hospital and related regulations to decide if it will revoke the license.

It adds that if a lawsuit or provisional injunction is made, the public hearing could be delayed.

Recording
Ko Hyeon-su / Provincial council member
<씽크:고현수/제주도의회 의원>

Im Tae-bong / Director, Provincial health dept.
<임태봉/제주특별자치도 보건복지여성국장>


I believe the province should complete the public hearings and revoke the business license as soon as possible on the assumption that an application for a provisional injunction will not be made. There is no particular reason to maintain the license, right? (The litigation itself is unique...) You mean the administrative litigation is unique? (It could be.)
"가처분 신청이 들어오지 않는다라는 전제하에 저는 조속히 청문절차를 완료해서 허가를 취소해야 한다고 생각합니다. 특별한 이유가 없잖습니까?
당연하죠? (소송 자체가 특별한..) 행정소송 자체가 특별하는 것입니까? (아마 그럴 개연성은 있습니다.)"

The provincial council also emphasizes that the province should prepare for a future potential lawsuits from Greenland for damage and compensation as well as for the revocation of the condition that limits the scope of patients to non-Koreans.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hoon

The Ministry of Health and Welfare made an authoritative interpretation on the Medical Law and concluded in January, 2018 that it is not unlawful for the province to limit the scope of patients the international hospital can treat.

The province will deal with an administrative suit filed by the hospital based on an authoritative interpretation made by Seoul.

Mike Balfour, KCTV