Medical disputes in Korea: first steps for foreign patients
Collect documents before leaving
Ask for relevant medical records, test results, imaging reports, prescriptions, consent forms, discharge information, receipts and an itemized bill. Preserve appointment messages, written estimates, advertisements that influenced the decision and later correspondence. Keep original files unchanged and make a backup.
Write a dated timeline in your own words: what you requested, what was explained, who communicated with you, what you signed, what treatment occurred and when the disputed problem appeared. Separate direct observations from what another person told you.
Ask for a written explanation
Request an explanation of the diagnosis, treatment, expected outcome, follow-up plan and charges. If language affected communication, ask whether essential documents can be provided in English or with interpretation. Do not sign a settlement or waiver you do not understand. Significant legal consequences require independent professional advice.
Use neutral public services
The Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency, known as K-Medi, publishes English information about consultation, mediation, arbitration, documents and fees. Its email-application guidance says required application documents must be completed in Korean, while English documents require Korean translations.
Medical Korea's Information Center says it handles complaints involving foreign patients and can support referral to K-Medi. These services do not guarantee that an application will be accepted or that compensation will result.
Illegal solicitation is a separate issue
Medical Korea provides a channel for suspected illegal attraction of foreign patients, including unregistered solicitation or false information. That reporting process is different from deciding whether negligence occurred. Save the URL, account name, screenshots, date, quoted price and institution name before content changes.