Seoul City’s 'Safe Hospital Companion' Approaches 30,000 Cases in 2 Years

Seoul Citizens Can Use It for 5,000 Won per Hour
Medical Difficulties Resolved... Annual Satisfaction Over 90%

The ‘Seoul City Hospital Safe Accompaniment Service,’ which accompanies individuals who find it difficult to go to the hospital by themselves throughout the entire process?from leaving home to returning?has recorded approximately 30,000 cumulative uses (29,181 as of December 2023) in just two years since its launch. This amounts to over 1,100 cases per month on average.

The ‘Seoul City Hospital Safe Accompaniment Service’ was initiated in November 2021 to alleviate medical difficulties faced by single-person households. In 2022, it surpassed 10,000 cases annually (10,722 cases), and in its third year, 2023, the service provided 18,042 cases, marking a 67.5% increase compared to the previous year.

Public response has been very positive. The service has maintained a satisfaction rate of over 90% each year, with a particularly high satisfaction rate of 95.1% in the category asking whether it helped resolve difficulties.

The ‘Seoul City Hospital Safe Accompaniment Service’ will continue to operate this year as well. Any citizen who needs assistance when going to the hospital can use the service for a fee of 5,000 KRW per hour, and Seoul citizens with an income below 100% of the median income can use it free of charge up to 48 times per year.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul City Women and Family Policy Office, stated, “The ‘Seoul City Hospital Safe Accompaniment Service,’ which was started for those who find it difficult even to leave home alone to go to the hospital, has seen increasing users and growing support year after year. This year, we will strive to assist citizens who truly need this service by strengthening the training of accompaniment managers and improving user convenience.”