A poster announcing the recruitment of trainee doctors is posted at a general hospital in Seoul on Aug. 9, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Seoul has the highest concentration of doctors per capita in South Korea, with 479 physicians per 100,000 insured residents, according to the National Health Insurance Service’s 2023 Regional Healthcare Statistics report. The capital accounts for 28% of the country’s medical workforce, reflecting its role as the nation’s healthcare hub.
Key Healthcare Statistics
The report revealed that as of the end of 2022, South Korea’s insured population reached 52.97 million, with 19% aged 65 or older. Total health insurance premiums rose by 6.8% year-over-year to ₩81.54 trillion ($57.03 billion). Workplace insurance premiums accounted for 87.8% of the total, while regional insurance made up the remaining 12.2%.
The average monthly insurance premium per household was ₩127,493 ($89.16), with workplace subscribers paying ₩144,713 ($101.23) and regional subscribers paying ₩92,144 ($64.45) on average. Seoul had the highest average premiums, with ₩165,336 ($115.66) for workplace subscribers and ₩121,065 ($84.66) for regional subscribers.
Distribution of Medical Resources
Seoul leads the nation not only in the number of doctors but also in total medical institutions, housing 24% of the country’s 101,762 facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Nurses, however, were most concentrated in Gwangju, with 754 nurses per 100,000 insured residents, compared to Seoul’s 734. The lowest ratios for both doctors and nurses were recorded in Sejong, with 206 doctors and 277 nurses per 100,000 insured residents.
Nationwide, South Korea had 166,197 doctors and 269,434 nurses, with 28% and 24%, respectively, located in Seoul.
Healthcare Expenditures and Disease Prevalence
The total national healthcare expenditure in 2022 was ₩121.83 trillion ($85.19 billion), with an average monthly per capita cost of ₩201,853 ($141.18). Jeonnam recorded the highest per capita expenditure at ₩255,518 ($178.68), while Sejong had the lowest at ₩160,644 ($112.38).
Breast cancer was the most prevalent major cancer, affecting 495 people per 100,000 insured residents. Periodontal disease had the highest prevalence among non-cancer conditions, impacting 43,738 individuals per 100,000 insured residents, followed by infectious diseases (20,934) and hypertension (14,770).
Implications
The report highlights significant disparities in healthcare resource distribution and access across regions, with Seoul dominating in both infrastructure and medical workforce. As South Korea’s population continues to age, these imbalances may pose challenges for equitable healthcare delivery nationwide.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
