Many hospitals appear to experience difficulty installing CCTVs in operating rooms because of overlapping installation schedules, with some calling for the government to delay deadlines for inspection.

Seoul Hospital Association Chairman Ko Doh-il recently asked Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Park Min-soo, who visited Ko Doh Il Hospital to check the status of CCTV installation in the operating room, to work out measures to improve the problems occurring in the medical field due to the mandatory installation of CCTV in the operating room, the association said on Monday.

"I would like the medical community to actively cooperate to legislative measures to protect patients’ safety and their rights and interests by effectively preventing illegal acts that may occur in the operating room," Vice Minister Park said after looking around the CCTV installation situation.

In response, Ko conveyed the problems facing the medical field due to the mandatory installation of CCTV in operating rooms and asked for solutions.

"Many hospitals have difficulty installing CCTVs due to the rush to install them. Please delay the inspection," Ko said. “Besides, please create a safe zone for hospitals to escape liability in the case of unexpected leakage."

Government officials said they would actively communicate with hospitals to stabilize the system as it is early in its implementation.

"As it is the first system to be introduced in the medical field, both patients and medical staff may have difficulty adapting to it at the beginning of implementation," Vice Minister Park said. "The government will continue to strive to stabilize the system through active communication with the field."

Vice Minister Park was accompanied by Kim Han-sook, director of the ministry’s Healthcare Policy Division, Seocho-gu Health Center Director Woo Seon-ok, and Jin Yong-hee, director of its Medical Support Division.