Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Some Doctors' Constant Fear: "Do Not Ask My Specialty"
As the number of patients decreases due to the economic slump, physicians, mostly those in small-and-large hospital and clinics, are trying out new fields unrelated to their specialties. This is happening in almost all medical fields, as specialists in obstetrics and gynecology treat aging, dentistry specialists enter the field of plastic surgery, rehabilitation experts treat obesity, and so on. A female obstetrician and gynecologist also switched her practice to plastic surgery and obesity because of a rapid decrease in the number of patients. She mostly gives botox shots and liposuction of abdomen now.

Most of the medical fields that physicians turn to are plastic surgery, obesity and skin care; fields to which medical insurance does not cover.
by Sang-Hoon Kim, Donga.com (February 28, 2005)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2005022860078

More Koreans seeking overseas medical care
More and more Koreans are going abroad these days to seek medical diagnosis or treatment. The trend is particularly evident among those who have cancer or incurable diseases because people have expectations of finding better technology overseas. People even send their medical records to foreign hospitals to confirm that they are receiving the proper treatment in Korea. The health ministry estimates about 2,000 patients went abroad last year, spending 1 trillion won ($850 million) at hospitals, mostly in the United States, such as Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, and MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.

The demand for overseas medical treatment has resulted in a proliferation of medical agencies. Some insurance companies and banks are offering the services to top customers. Through an agency, a diagnosis can cost 7 million won ($5,900), with treatment far higher. Although going abroad for medical treatment does not violate the law, specialists say that in some cases, it might actually be a wasteful expenditure.
by Shin Sung-shik, JoongAng Daily (January 29, 2004)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200401/29/200401292300303779900090409041.html

[Real Reality]

Prosecutors allege doctors paid for advanced degrees
Officials said some doctors are alleged to not have attended any classes. After the investigation began, professors at certain medical schools were found to have erased or replaced their computer hard discs. Doctors said granting medical degrees in exchange for money has been a long-established practice. "Doctors who operate their own clinic do not have time to attend class or partake in classroom experiments so they habitually give money to the schools in order to gain degrees," one medical school professor said. Doctors are said to pursue advanced degrees because it looks good on their credentials.
by Jang Dae-suk, JoongAng Daily (January 29, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200501/28/200501282220344579900090409041.html

[Guri Guy]

All I say is *Ouch*.