University hospitals charge undocumented migrants international fees, study finds

According to one outlet supplied by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Yoon, three major national university hospitals—Pusan National University Hospital’s main campus in Busan, Seoul National University Hospital and Chonnam National University Hospital—use the international patient fee schedule as a default for undocumented migrants. While each hospital sets its own eligibility rules, the international rates are normally reserved for medical tourists and uninsured patients.

Kim’s office compared 2023-2025 billing data for foreign patients at these hospitals with costs covered by a government medical assistance program for vulnerable foreigners, finding average outpatient charges of roughly 2.03 million won versus 1.24 million won, a 1.6-fold difference. The comparison did not control for illness severity or treatment specifics, and the hospital patient pool was not limited to undocumented migrants. Kim cautioned that applying international rates across the board could exacerbate financial strain for vulnerable groups and urged a refinement of the pricing criteria based on patients’ reasons for seeking care and their ability to pay.