Hospital Stuck with 800M Won in Unpaid Medical Bills for Unconscious Foreign Patient

A hospital in South Korea has provided treatment for more than six years to an unregistered foreign patient who collapsed while working after entering the country on a tourist visa (C-1), but has reportedly failed to collect over 800 million won in medical expenses.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) has recommended that relevant government agencies establish systems to support the medical expenses and repatriation of unaccompanied foreign patients.

A, a Chinese national, entered South Korea on a tourist visa in September 2019 and worked washing dishes at a restaurant in Ulsan for nine days before collapsing from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Afterward, while in a coma, A was transferred to Hospital B in December of the same year. Bound by mandatory treatment regulations under the Emergency Medical Service Act and the Medical Service Act, Hospital B continued treatment without interruption for approximately six years.

A passed away in April of this year, six years and four months after being hospitalized, during which time unpaid medical bills accumulated to about 840 million won.

However, A's children and other family members in China expressed an inability to pay the overdue medical expenses due to financial hardships and submitted a statement abandoning treatment, leaving Hospital B to shoulder the massive financial burden.

When the ACRC received a grievance from the representative of Hospital B in July of last year, it communicated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ulsan Metropolitan City to try to resolve the hospital bill and repatriation issues. However, due to limitations in current regulations and other hurdles, progress stalled, and the situation remained unchanged until A passed away.

Under these circumstances, it is reportedly difficult in reality for Hospital B to be reimbursed for the unpaid medical bills by the government or the family.

Considering the possibility of similar damages recurring, the ACRC subsequently issued recommendations to relevant agencies to devise support measures addressing the repatriation and unpaid medical debts of unconscious, unaccompanied, or undocumented foreign patients.

Ulsan Metropolitan City decided to establish administrative support manuals by department, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed to actively pursue diplomatic efforts if similar grievances arise.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Kim Na-on | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.