Incheon has recorded the highest "amenable mortality" rate among the nation's eight major special and metropolitan cities for five consecutive years.

Amenable mortality calculates premature deaths that could have been avoided if timely and effective medical services had been provided.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Huh Jong-sik, Incheon's amenable mortality rate per 100,000 population was recorded at 48.58 in 2020, 51.49 in 2021, 51.31 in 2022, 49.59 in 2023, and 46.18 in 2024.

From 2020 to 2024, Incheon's amenable mortality rate remained the highest each year among the eight major metropolitan cities nationwide, including Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon.

During the same period (2020–2024), the annual average premature mortality rate by district in Incheon was highest in Dong-gu at 58.7, followed by Ongjin-gun at 58.5, Michuhol-gu at 54.4, and Ganghwa-gun at 53.8.

The mortality rates in Dong-gu and Ongjin-gun were about 1.5 times that of Yeonsu-gu, which recorded the lowest at 38.9.

Lawmaker Huh stated, "Amenable mortality has marked a disgraceful first place for five years, and even within Incheon, the mortality rates in older downtown areas and island regions are relatively high," urging the central government and Incheon City to establish region-contained public healthcare measures.
 
(Photo: Capture from Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)