Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Park (42), who works for a real estate consultancy in Gangnam, Seoul, had a check-up on February and a tumor was found in around the pit of his stomach. He went to "A" general hospital and underwent a computer tomography procedure. However, a doctor suggested checking again six months later as cancer is not easy to detect.

So he went to an agency that recommends medical services abroad. A month later, he received treatment at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. An American doctor kindly explained how the operation would proceed.

The tumor turned out to be not cancerous, and the operation was completed successfully. It cost him about 40 million won to be hospitalized for three days and undergo the operation. Park was satisfied and said that given the confidence he felt while receiving treatment and the high-quality medical treatment technology, he didn't think it was expensive.

The number of people who seek alternative medical choices abroad is increasing as Korea is losing its competitive edge in high-class service industries such as medical treatments, education, and tourism, which are higher value-added businesses. Recently, this trend is spreading in the middle class as well as the high-income bracket.
Korea Losing Edge in High-Class Service Industries
Donga.com (August 05, 2005)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2005080598828

[crazylemongirl]

That being said there is some top flight medical care here. The dermatologist i went to totally took care of my skin and the results were amazing. I never would have had access to that kind of care at that kind of price bak home.

[trevorcollins]

Did he use standard treatment number 1 - i.e shrugging his shoulders and then prescribing antibiotics? or standard treatment number 2 - i.e cocking his head to one side, making a slurping noise through his teeth and then prescribing antibiotics?

Sadly my heart says the latter.

[simone]

[desultude]

The truth be told, if I needed something serious done, I would go to Bunrungrad (sp?) in bangkok. I got a physical there a year ago and the treatment was unbelieveable. I highly recommend it if you are at all worried about care here. I suspect there is great service available here, also, but honestly I haven't found it yet in Daegu.

[nrvs]

I have to say I disagree with RR on this one. If you're not rich enough (or "middle class" enough, as this article would lead you to believe) to afford $40,000 treatment, I believe the medical facilities in Korea are on par with America.

I was mostly uninsured in the United States for several years and it's a real hard time. Try paying $90 just to step into some family practitioner's examination room for a 15-minute appointment and you'll realize how out of control American medical costs are. Here, I can see an English-speaking, specialized doctor for W30,000 or less. That's the uninsured price, too, not some kind of co-pay. And that's at one of the best hospitals in Seoul -- Samsung Medical Center.

However, and I don't mean to hijack this thread,

[TJ]

[quote="

So yes, avoid Dr. Kim at the International Clinic in Itaewon. I prefer Seoul National University Hospital myself.

Simone[/quote]

Sorry, I disagree. My wife broke her arm and was taken to the S.N.U hospital in Bundang because it was the closest at the time. The doctors there were hopeless. They realigned the broken bones without using an anaesthetic. Then had to do it again because the bones weren't properly aligned.

When we returned to Australia we found that the whole procedure had been bungled. The bone had to be re-broken and re-set, pins inserted and now she needs 6 months (minimum) physiotherapy.

My wife's wrist is misshapen and she is in constant pain.

No, we definitely wouldn't recommend that hospital.

[KiteOperations]

[simone]

[dogbert]

[canukteacher]

I am leery of medical treatment in Korea.

One of the top universities here has a branch of their hospital in Guri (sorry not sure of the name). I went there about my thyroid a couple of years ago. I was seen by THE HEAD DOCTOR..........AS IN HEAD OF THE HOSPITAL (degrees from well known US universities). I had a biopsy done. The head pathologist did it, and he was hopeless. All that came back (thankfully) was that my thyroid was enlarged. This guy wants to remove it immediately. If you do not have a thyroid it means drugs for the rest of your life. I said NO...........I am going to Canada and will have a second opinion there. Korean doctor was insulted. Canadian doc says yes it is enlarged but unless it is causing you problems let's leave it along.
Guess whose advise I took?

I have also had the displeasure of going to Dr. Kim at the International Clinic in Itaewan. Stay clear of him. All he wants to do is push vitamins. He thinks it is beneath him to even do a proper examination. You'd be better off with a witch doctor.

Medical treatment here is sketchy at best. I would agree with the poster who says Thailand is the place to go.

CTl

[Freezer Burn]

[nrvs]

[ajuma]

While Koreans may be going to America for treatment, Americans are going elsewhere!!!

RR: Two can play at this game!!

http://www.medicaltourism.com/

http://www.voanews.com/english/NewsAnalysis/2005-03-18-voa27.cfm

[desultude]