A nursing home in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, is under inquiry following reports of elder abuse and substandard care. The allegations, brought forth by a whistleblower, center on the facility’s operational practices and its connection to the family of First Lady Kim kun-hee.

The Allegations: Poor Care and Unsanitary Conditions

The whistleblower’s report, submitted to the Health Insurance Corporation and Namyangju City on April 9, detailed concerns about the quality and hygiene of meals provided to residents. Despite being advertised as a Hotel Nursing Home, the reality, according to the report, was starkly different.

• Substandard Meals: Residents, who pay 375,000 won (approximately $275 USD) per month, allegedly received poor and unsanitary meals.
• Rotten Food: Rotten fruit was reportedly served as snacks.
• Diluted Drinks: One instance cited involved only seven bananas being used to make juice for 16 residents, with the mixture then diluted with water.
• Minimal Snack Costs: The cost of snacks was estimated to be around 100 won (less than $0.10 USD) per person.

The whistleblower further claimed that meals were prepared with cheap ingredients, with it challenging to find leek and meat dried pieces in Gomtang and seaweed soup often served without seaweed. Hygiene was also a major concern, with reports of spoons being served with food already stuck to them.

Medical Neglect and Physical Restraints

Beyond the food-related issues, the report also highlighted instances of alleged medical neglect and improper use of physical restraints.

• Delayed Medical Care: In one case, an 80-year-old resident with diarrhea and bloody symptoms was allegedly left unattended for nearly three weeks before being transferred to a hospital. This delay was attributed to the lack of on-site medical staff.
• Unauthorized Restraints: The whistleblower alleged that residents deemed unable to make decisions were tied to their beds 24 hours a day,without proper record-keeping.

The whistleblower testified, I give it so much that I can fish and save it, and the sausage is very cheap.

Nursing Home’s Background and management

The nursing home, which opened in 2017, is reportedly run by Choi eun-soon, the mother of First Lady Kim Kun-hee. While the official representative is Kim Jin-woo, Mrs. Kim’s brother, Choi is alleged to be involved in the actual operation, with key positions held by relatives.

Past Evaluations and Inspections

Prior evaluations have raised concerns about the facility’s practices:

• 2021 Evaluation: The Korea Health Service Corporation’s regular evaluation gave the nursing home the lowest rating in ‘excretion management’ within the ‘Protection of Senior Human Rights’ category, which assesses abuse and physical restraint.
• 2019 Inspection: A Namyangju City inspection revealed issues such as the use of questionable ingredients and insufficient record-keeping regarding the use of body restraints.

Ongoing Investigation and Potential Consequences

Following the public interest report, Namyangju City and the Health Insurance Corporation are conducting a field survey. the investigation will determine whether to recover unfairly paid care benefits and whether to impose administrative penalties, such as suspension or cancellation of the facility’s designation.