Seoul National University Hospital Patients Paid More for Treatment the Farther They Were from Seoul

150,000 KRW per person in the Seoul Metropolitan Area · 190,000-200,000 KRW in Gwangju and Jeonnam
Assemblyman Kim Moon-soo, "Reflecting the Reality of Medical Infrastructure Shortages"

According to an analysis of the 'Medical Treatment Records from January 2022 to September 2024' submitted by Seoul National University Hospital to Kim Moon-soo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, more than 1.3 million inpatient and outpatient patients from non-metropolitan areas visited Seoul National University Hospital.

Although this accounts for only about 20% of the total patients, it means that an average of 40,000 patients from non-metropolitan areas receive treatment at Seoul National University Hospital each month.

Assemblyman Kim Moon-soo [Photo by Assemblyman Kim Moon-soo's Office]

The financial burden of medical expenses for non-metropolitan patients was also found to be higher. Non-metropolitan inpatient and outpatient patients bore an average treatment cost of 190,000 KRW per person, while metropolitan patients bore 150,000 KRW.

Considering additional costs such as transportation, accommodation, and opportunity costs like labor, household chores, and leisure, the economic burden on non-metropolitan patients is estimated to be even greater.

Treatment costs also showed a consistent pattern depending on the distance from Seoul. The farther from the metropolitan area, the higher the per-person treatment cost burden.

Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon patients bore about 150,000 KRW per person, whereas patients from Busan, Jeju, Daegu, Gyeongnam, Ulsan, and Gwangju bore around 200,000 KRW.

Chungnam, Chungbuk, and Gangwon, which are relatively close to the metropolitan area, bore about 160,000 KRW, while Sejong, Jeonbuk, and Daejeon bore around 180,000 KRW. Gyeongbuk and Jeonnam patients bore approximately 190,000 KRW.

Notably, although non-metropolitan patients accounted for 20% of all outpatients, they represented a higher proportion of 28% among all inpatients.

This reflects the situation where severely ill patients have no choice but to travel long distances to Seoul National University Hospital because treatment is difficult in their residential areas.

Non-metropolitan inpatients bore an average treatment cost of 1,880,000 KRW per person, while metropolitan inpatients bore 1,780,000 KRW, showing a difference of about 100,000 KRW.

Assemblyman Kim Moon-soo emphasized, “The reason non-metropolitan patients travel to large hospitals like Seoul National University Hospital for treatment is due to the lack of medical personnel and infrastructure capable of handling severe diseases within their regions,” adding, “Practical measures to reduce regional medical disparities, such as expanding the regional doctor system and creating ten Seoul National University Hospitals, are necessary.”