Emergency patient transport. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Roughly eight out of ten South Koreans believe public hospitals are essential, particularly in times of medical crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic and recent government-doctor disputes.
Yet despite broad public recognition of their importance, actual usage of public hospitals remains relatively low, according to a new government-funded study.
The Korea Health Industry Development Institute’s Biohealth Policy Research Center released its findings Thursday in a report titled “Analysis of Perception and Utilization Gaps in Public Hospital Services.”
The research draws on two national surveys conducted in May and July of 2023, targeting adults aged 20 to 69, to examine shifts in public sentiment and usage patterns during periods of healthcare instability.
In the 2023 survey, 83.7% of respondents said public hospitals were necessary, with 57.2% calling them “very necessary.” That figure declined slightly to 76.2% in the 2024 follow-up survey but still reflected strong public endorsement.
Even more notable was the sharp rise in expectations for public hospitals’ role during health crises. Confidence that public hospitals could continue delivering essential care during future outbreaks or emergencies jumped from 58.8% in 2023 to 85.4% in 2024. Belief in their ability to improve access to care in underserved regions also surged, from 53.6% to 81.4%.
(Image courtesy of Korea Health Industry Development Institute)
Yet this positive perception has not translated into high usage. Only 37% of respondents reported using a public hospital within the past three years as of 2023. That figure rose modestly to 40.2% in 2024 amid growing concern over gaps in care during the prolonged standoff between doctors and the government.
Among patients who did not use public hospitals, the most common reason—across both serious and minor illness categories—was loyalty to familiar providers. More than 80% of respondents with serious conditions and 68% with general illnesses said they continued using their usual hospitals. Over half also cited distance and transportation difficulties.
Despite these obstacles, overall willingness to use public hospitals in the future edged upward, from 3.7 to 3.8 on a 5-point scale.
In this photo, a medical staff member at Seoul Medical Center, which has been designated as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, checks the status of patients in the negative pressure ward on a monitor. (Image provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government)
The report also includes in-depth interviews with healthcare policy experts and public hospital executives. Many pointed to structural limitations in public hospital systems, particularly a lack of infrastructure for advanced care and a perception of lower service quality.
“Patients are more concerned about trust and treatment quality than whether a hospital simply exists,” said one expert. Another noted that without significant improvements in non-reimbursed services, rising national income levels give patients little incentive to choose public providers.
The authors concluded that public hospitals face fundamental challenges in quality, competitiveness, and policy alignment. They called for a redefined role for public hospitals within a regionally integrated essential care system and emphasized the need for structural reforms to make public health services a viable and trusted option.
Meanwhile, public frustration with the ongoing healthcare impasse appears to be influencing patient behavior. The survey found that 62.4% of respondents agree that people should avoid seeking care for minor illnesses during periods of medical unrest, while 45.8% said the conflict prompted them to explore alternative care options within their local communities.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
