Korean Job Discussion Forums

Morton · Joined: 06 Mar 2007

Something happened today which has me confused. This morning i went to a dermatologist near Sookmyung University station, after a recommendation from a fellow forum user.
When i got there i completed a form which informed me i would have to pay 30,000w for the first consultation and 20,000w for any appointments that may follow. Fortunately as a respectable citizen i pay my medical insurance and had my book/card with me. I explained this to the receptionist. Another receptionist explained that it was an extra charge for foreigners. I explained that i had my medical insurance book and would not be willing to pay this extra fee. They said i should explain this to the doctor.
When i got to see the doctor i explained the situation and he said he would waive the fee. He then asked me a couple of questions and said i should return two times a week. I replied that i would not be willing to pay extra fees due to the fact that i am foreign. He asked me to leave.

Is this normal? Every other doctor i have seen in Korea have been exceptionally nice to me. One traditional doctor waived the fees completely. Is this a Seoul thing? If anyone can shed some light i would be grateful.
Please do not use this thread as a chance to bash Korea.
If it is allowed i would like to post the name and address of the clinic.

drkalbi · Joined: 06 Aug 2006

Same thing happened to me in Suwon. I went to an English speaking doctor to get a prescription. They charged me 20,000 won. They told me it was a foreigner fee even though I had my insurance card. The next time I went to another doctor who spoke only basic English and he charged me only 3000 won.

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

does not sound normal. my boyfriend just saw a dermatologist at a hospital nearby, and it cost around 10,000 won, showing his insurance. maybe try somewhere else?

SHANE02 · Joined: 04 Jun 2003

There is no foreigner fee. Find a new doctor.

Morton · Joined: 06 Mar 2007

Following on from the initial post: Does anyone know any dermatolgists near Ehwa Uni, Hongdae, Sinchon, or Sindaebang that won't try to rip me off?

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

I'm in the complete opposite direction (East of Seoul) but if you don't find any I might be able to help.

Morton · Joined: 06 Mar 2007

The doctor in question was:

Drs. Woo & Hann's Skin & Laser Clinic.
(02) 756-5118, 756-9121(English)
www.wooskin.co.kr

I walked out. This kind of thing is unacceptable.

Temporary · Joined: 13 Jan 2008

Hmm it seems I need to rephrase myself. Most of Korean Doctors barely deserve the MD beside their names. Too many times I have run into a completely oblivious, retarded, stupid, dumb, moronic doctors. This Foreigner fee its horse crap. This doctor should be striped off all his medical certifications for being immoral and unethical behavior, then he should be taken out behind his office and severely beaten.

seoulsucker · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject:

I just called and asked if they charge extra for foreigners. The woman on the other line kind of stuttered her way through an answer, but didn't say yes or no.

I encourage more of you to do the same.

This guy is using his ability to fleece customers. It's total BS.

The funny thing is, instead of dropping his fee, I bet 10,000 he stops taking foreigners as customers altogether.

seoulsucker · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

dr. love · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

There is no such fee at our hospital.

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

No drenn, sherlock.

I find it works two ways here. Either they try to charge you the magic "foreigner fee" or you get a "total free card" where you don't even have to pay for the medical bills. This happened to be at a small doctors clinic, being one of the few foreigners who had ever gone there had them so pleased that I didn't have to pay for the medicine or diagnosis.

Colorado · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject:

sunhelen · Joined: 18 Sep 2007

I had a problem with that clinic as well. So I went to a doctor who was in the same building as my dentist and he spoke good medical English as was really competent.

maddog · Joined: 08 Dec 2005 Location: Daegu

The idea of doctors charging a foreigner's fee sounds completely illegal to me. You could notify the relevant authorites, but I doubt they'd care.

I'm always charged roughly 3000W, whteher it's simply a head cold, or getting x-rays, physio, and a shot in the ass after falling down a flight of stairs hammered.

I had to go to the ear, nose, and throat clinic on Friday. Again, I was charged about 3000W.

The last time I went to the dentist however was another matter. I've yet to meet anyone else who was charged 120K to have their teeth cleaned and poished.