Korea is home to some of the world’s finest medical facilities.

Many hospitals, clinics, traditional Eastern medicine facilities and private practitioners’ offices are equipped with the latest equipment and offer a variety of practices and services.

As the number of foreigners residing in Korea increases, the number of available medical service providers has been rising as well.

In order to receive quality medical service in Korea, insurance is viewed as a must.

Citizens therefore are required to participate in four major insurance plans: the national pension program, national health insurance, unemployment insurance and disaster insurance.

There can be slight differences in the applicability of these to foreign residents, depending on visa status, but a majority of expats who are employed in Korea are covered by all four.

When a foreign resident receives medical insurance, they get the same benefits as a Korean national.

The patient is responsible for 20 percent to 50 percent of medical care fees and 30 percent of the cost of medicine purchased at a pharmacy.

In order to ensure a healthy stay in Korea, it is a good idea to be aware of the way the health insurance system works.

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It’s an odd dynamic: Personal health is obviously crucial to life, yet expats in many countries often overlook it. In many cases, language and cultural barriers prevent expats from seeking preventative care and potential hospitals and doctors in case of emergencies.

But it’s wise to have your treatment options already mapped out, and the following information will help you do just that.

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The Seoul Global Center is continually working hard to provide information and convenience to the international community in Seoul. It is our pleasure to once again announce our annual Information Fair.

About 40 organizations will be present at the 2010 Information Fair, covering public, medical, financial, communications and travel, as well as many others. Last year, thanks to the help of our over 15,000 participants, our Information Fair was a great success and this year we hope to make it even more successful.

We hope to see you there!

▣ Event Information

►Date and Time: May 8th and 9th, 2010 (Sat-Sun), 12:00-19:00

►Location: The sidewalk starting from the Seoul Finance Center to Cheongyechon (About 265m)

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Do you have a qualification in Medicine, Nursing or an Allied Health profession??   Would you like to volunteer your time to provide English-speaking callers with medical referrals here in Seoul?

The Medical Referral Service (MRS) has been operating in Seoul for over 30 years and is funded by the Seoul Global Center. The MRS is staffed by a team of expatriate English-speaking volunteers who provide confidential medical referrals and clinic recommendations to callers. We’re currently recruiting more members to join this small but committed team.

MRS team members take turns on-call with one of two cell phones, taking calls from English-speakers seeking referrals to hospitals, clinics and medical specialists throughout Seoul. Full information and training is provided. As the service operates through designated cell phones, it is a part-time role that can easily be fitted around other lifestyle activities. The MRS is not an emergency service, and the team does not provide medical advice. This is a very fulfilling role for those who enjoy talking with others and assisting people through voluntary work. MRS Team members must be fluent English speakers, empathic and hold a medically-related qualification. Team Members are paid a small amount for being on-call.

Further inquiries, please contact the MRS at 010-4769-8212 or email to Jeongmae, Park at medicalreferral@seoul.go.kr

1.  What is the National Health Insurance in Korea?

To enhance the public health and strengthen social security, the national health insurance provides health care benefits against illnesses and injuries for insured persons. Insured persons under the NHI program are classified into two categories: the employed insured and the self-employed insured.  Anyone who has resided in Korea for longer than 3 months and is either employed by a company or self-employed is required to have NHI.  If you enter Korea and then later become employed or self-employed NHI contributions will be retroactive, regardless of the day you sign up for NHI.  

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Currently, there are no compulsory vaccinations are required to enter South Korea.  However, particulary in the summer time, you may have a higher risk of contracting these seasonal diseases:

1.   H1N1 Flu: Swine flu

Background

Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March and April, 2009. It’s thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus, but it may also be spread by touching infected objects and then touching your nose or mouth. Novel H1N1 infection has been reported to cause a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In addition, many people also have reported nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

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