Shocking Medical Negligence and Industry Abuse: MBC’s ‘True Story Expedition’ Reveals Heartbreaking Realities

‘True Story Expedition’ is bringing us two shocking true stories.

In the May 14 episode of MBC’s ‘True Story Expedition’, the show dives deep into the harsh reality of the medical world, specifically focusing on “freelance anesthesiologists.”

Back in January, a healthy woman in her 40s suddenly collapsed due to hypoxic brain damage. She had walked into the operating room on her own for a simple elbow surgery, but she was carried out on a stretcher. Since then, her husband, Mr. Park (pseudonym), has seen his entire world fall apart. What exactly happened inside that operating room?

The CCTV footage reviewed by Mr. Park revealed a shocking scene. The anesthesiologist left the operating room right after injecting the anesthetic. To make matters worse, the lead surgeon also left the room about 20 minutes later. While the doctors who should have been monitoring the patient were all gone, Mr. Park’s wife suffered cardiac arrest. When Mr. Park demanded an explanation, the anesthesiologist, who identified as a “freelance anesthesiologist,” gave a baffling excuse, claiming that as a freelancer, they were allowed to leave if they had surgery schedules at other hospitals. How are these “freelance anesthesiologists” actually operating?

The anesthesiologist initially admitted to Mr. Park that they “did break the rules.” However, they later changed their stance, sending a certified letter claiming they had “provided faithful treatment.” Meanwhile, the surgeon who left the room is avoiding responsibility, claiming they “didn’t know the anesthesiologist had left.” Amidst these conflicting claims, Mr. Park says he has yet to receive any apology from the doctors.

The second story investigates the death of a telecom agency manager, Heo Seong-won. Mr. Heo took his own life less than a month after celebrating his child’s first birthday. Despite being born with a rare disease and spending much of his life in hospitals, he worked silently, dreaming of happiness with his new spouse. Why did he leave his beloved family behind? He left behind 25 audio recordings and a suicide note stating, “The spilled water only spread the more I wiped it, and it has reached a stage that cannot be stopped.”

The note left by the late Heo Seong-won indicated that the trouble began when he took over as the agency manager. He had started this new chapter with excitement after being encouraged by a corporate director, Mr. Park (pseudonym). According to the bereaved family, the tragedy began about three months into his tenure. An employee recommended by Mr. Park allegedly caused damages of about 30 million won through fraudulent activity and then vanished. Although Heo Seong-won sued the employee for embezzlement, the agency and Mr. Park reportedly held Heo Seong-won responsible for everything. After a grueling year of trying to fix the situation, another problem arose. In January of this year, about a year and a half after becoming manager, Director Park visited and began using abusive language and insults, demanding the return of a deposit he claimed to have paid first. The family claims that Mr. Park’s verbal abuse and financial pressure over 25 instances in three months, including calling him “a parasite,” eventually led Heo Seong-won to take his own life. Furthermore, the family witnessed a shocking scene at the funeral.

When the production team investigated the suspicions surrounding Heo Seong-won’s death, industry insiders collectively stated, “It was bound to happen.” They revealed that many people are suffering from similar hardships. They claim this isn’t just an isolated problem but that the very structure of the telecom industry is designed to stifle agency owners. Some expressed their agony, describing the arrangements made by telecom companies and corporate agencies as “nothing more than slave contracts.” What is really happening in the telecom industry? The episode airs on the 14th at 9 PM.