Patients Left Vulnerable as Doctor Walkouts Lead to Minimal Resolution of Reported Harm
seoul,South Korea – A new report reveals a concerningly low rate of resolution for patient harm allegedly stemming from recent doctor walkouts and collective action. Despite nearly one thousand formal complaints filed with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s dedicated damage reporting center, a vast majority remain unresolved, leaving patients feeling unsupported and vulnerable.
Launched in February 2024 to mitigate disruptions to healthcare access – including treatment refusals, appointment cancellations, and surgery postponements – the center promised legal counsel and intervention for those impacted. However, data submitted to the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee shows a stark disconnect between promise and reality.
Between February 19, 2024, and August 31, 2025, the center received 7,866 consultations. Of the 957 cases formally submitted for investigation and action by local governments, a mere 20 – just 2.1% – were demonstrably resolved through direct intervention by the ministry or local authorities.
The overwhelming majority of cases were closed without meaningful action. A significant 61.4% (578 cases) were terminated after only superficial measures like formal guidance to medical institutions or the forwarding of complaints.Another 9.8% (92 cases) were closed due to insufficient patient facts or unconfirmed details, while 9.4% (88 cases) were resolved independently by patients or through hospital concessions without official intervention.
Further analysis reveals a pattern of limited engagement. Only 0.5% of cases (5) were handled internally by the center’s legal teams, and 6.2% (58) were referred to other local jurisdictions or external organizations. A substantial 10.3% (97) were deemed irrelevant to the collective action by doctors.
Democratic Party Representative Kim Yun highlighted specific examples of inadequate responses. She cited a case where a critical hemodialysis replacement surgery for a heart patient was delayed, yet the local government’s response was limited to requesting the hospital provide “pleasant medical services.” Another case involved a month-long delay in treatment for a premature infant, met with a local government directive to “take action quickly.”
The geographic distribution of complaints reveals a concentration of harm in the metropolitan area, with Seoul accounting for 527 of the 957 reported cases, followed by Gyeonggi-do with 125.
“the current medical policies have created unacceptable gaps in care, and this center, intended to provide relief, has proven largely ineffective,” stated Representative Kim Yun. “The fact that so many reported harms remain unaddressed is deeply concerning. We must urgently assess the extent of unresolved damage and develop robust institutional safeguards to protect patients from future harm.”
