A South Korean teenager died in an ambulance last month after being turned away by eight hospitals unable to provide pediatric neurological care, sparking public outcry and highlighting systemic issues within the nation’s healthcare system. The 18-year-old from Busan, who collapsed near his school on October 20th, became a tragic case study in the growing difficulties of accessing timely medical attention, particularly for young patients. The incident comes amid an ongoing medical debate in South Korea, fueled by a recent doctor’s strike protesting government plans to increase medical school quotas [[1]].
An 18-year-old in Busan, South Korea, died in an ambulance after eight hospitals refused to admit him for treatment, highlighting a critical shortage of medical specialists, particularly in pediatric neurology. The case has ignited public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the country’s healthcare system.
The teenager was found unconscious and experiencing breathing difficulties near his school on October 20, 2025. Paramedics arrived on the scene within 15 minutes but initially found no external injuries and were unable to determine the cause of his condition.
Medical personnel then began contacting hospitals in an effort to secure care for the patient.
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“Five major hospitals refused due to a lack of pediatric neurologists,” a firefighter who assisted in the rescue effort told SCMP.
Under South Korean regulations, patients up to the age of 18 are still classified as pediatric cases. In total, eight hospitals, including facilities in other cities, declined to treat the teenager.
Nearly an hour passed before the patient went into cardiac arrest. While hospitals are obligated to accept patients experiencing cardiac arrest, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the nearest medical facility.
An investigation later revealed that the teenager had fallen from a school building. The tragedy underscores growing concerns about the accessibility of pediatric care in South Korea.
South Korea has one of the lowest doctor-to-population ratios among developed nations, with just 2.6 physicians per 1,000 residents. A recent government proposal to increase medical school quotas sparked a nationwide doctor’s strike earlier this year.
Recurring Problem
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, an 80-year-old woman and a man suffering from abdominal pain both died after being turned away by multiple hospitals.
The shortage of pediatricians is particularly acute. The number of pediatric clinics has decreased by 12.5 percent over the past five years, and interest in specializing in pediatrics has plummeted, with only 33 of 208 training positions filled last year.
“Pediatrics is seen as a department with no future. If no action is taken, babies and children in Korea will lose their basic right to medical care,” stated Lim Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Pediatric Society.
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(sao/kna)
