Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Lunar New Year brings doubling of burn, choking patients and car accidents

Over the Lunar New Year break, the number of patients treated for airway obstruction from choking and burns nearly double compared with ordinary periods, along with car accidents while traveling nationwide, according to latest government data.

2026-02-13

Assault, insults now grounds to refuse emergency room care in new guidelines

Medical personnel can now refuse to provide services to patients or guardians who insult or assault staff in an emergency room under new guidelines recently issued by the government.

2024-09-19

All but two emergency medical facilities to operate over Chuseok

The Health Ministry said that 407 of 409 emergency medical facilities will operate as usual over the holiday, advising patients with light symptoms to seek treatment at smaller clinics.

2024-09-13

As burned-out senior doctors resign, emergency rooms feel the pinch

The recent resignation of senior doctors has crippled emergency rooms nationwide even further, aggravating the medical vacuum that has persisted since the country's junior doctors’ began their walkout in February.

2024-09-04

Authorities worry non-critical cases burden emergency rooms

The medical community has asked patients with minor injuries not to seek emergency room care, as this can lead to a shortage of beds for those in urgent need of medical attention.

2023-10-02

Hospitals letting down their Covid-19 guard

Patients coming into hospital emergency rooms will no longer be required to take a Covid-19 test before receiving treatment, one more step toward pre-pandemic normalcy.

2022-10-12

Emergency transfer

Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don is being taken to an emergency room at a hospital in Busan on Tuesday. Oh complained of feeling something pressing on his chest while waiting in a police lock-up for a court’s decision

2020-06-02