Getting Sick in Korea

Most residents of Gwangju have probably heard about the unfortunate case of Sarah Graydon. She was in the hospital for months, while her family was stuck on the other side of the world. We are happy to report that Sarah has recovered and is now back in England. Sarah’s ordeal taught us a lot. We found out just how wonderful the foreign community of Gwangju can be. We also learned just how terrible being sick in a foreign land can be.

Being in a Korean hospital can be an alienating, expensive and confusing experience for most foreigners. There are many comforts we take for granted in the West that are simply not part of how things are done in Korea. Rather than just seeing one or two doctors, you will see several every day. Due to the respectfulness of the culture, Korean patients tend not to question their doctors and, as Sarah found out, doctors may perform tests and surgeries without first consulting their patients.

More than once, Sarah did not know she was going to have surgery until it happened. One time, while we were visiting her, she was eating for the first time in days. The doctor came over and asked her why she was eating when she was going in for surgery soon. Sarah said she did not know anything about the surgery and asked when it would be. They told her it was in a few minutes and then wheeled her away. This factor, combined with the language barrier, makes it difficult for foreigners to stay informed about what is going on.

Rooms in the hospital are cheap, but you may share the room with five other people and their families. Also, Sarah’s room was kept extremely warm and usually smelled strongly of kimchi. A sense of community, warm temperatures and kimchi are seen as very important for the healing process in Korea. To a foreigner, however, the lack of privacy, constant commotion, and ever-present smell of kimchi can make the recovery process difficult.

For the common cold, the level of health care coverage in Korea is perfect, but if you get seriously ill, it can be financially devastating. We learned first hand from what happened to Sarah. If it were not for all of her wonderful friends and family from all over the globe, she might have never recovered.

Korean insurance is not like the insurance many Westerners might be used to receiving. It does not cover everything.  For the more expensive procedures, it only covers a small fraction of the cost.

Additionally, hospital patients are expected to have a family member with them to be responsible for basic care. Since many foreigners do not have someone who can do that, they must hire an assistant. This fee costs around 80,000 won per day, and they likely do not speak English. Insurance does not cover this necessity at all.

All of these expenses will add up very quickly, and, as was the case with Sarah, a lengthy illness can lead to termination of one’s employment. With no income, a patient is forced to use savings to pay their bills or accumulate debt. Most people do not have a large sum of won on hand in case a serious medical problem arises. So if you accumulate a large debt, you will likely need to have someone, typically a Korean, co-sign for it. If you cannot pay or think you can pull a “midnight run” and just leave the country, that person will be responsible for your bill.

The people you think are supposed to help in such situations may not always come through. The British Embassy was contacted to see if they could help Sarah, but the only support they offered was contacting her family. Several charities were also contacted about helping Sarah get back to England, but none responded except Doctors Without Borders, who stated that South Korea was not an area where they worked.

Sarah was fortunate to have her brother drop everything to fly out to Korea and accompany her back to England, but friends and family cannot always travel. If Sarah’s brother were not able to come, she may have had to wait several more weeks until she was strong enough to travel on her own. During this time, she very well may have suffered a relapse and ended up back in the hospital.

Sarah received an amazing amount of support from the community here in Gwangju and from friends and family all over. For a long time though, we were worried she might not get the help she needed. The next person might not be as lucky as Sarah was.

Now that it is clear what can happen if you are gravely ill, the next person in this situation might not have the same level of support. People might be less likely to donate their money and time the second time around. Therefore, everyone should take precautions against getting sick and the burdens that come with it.

Take the time to read exactly what the Korean National Health Insurance actually covers at: www.nhic.or.kr. Many Koreans purchase additional insurance to protect themselves. This is definitely something to consider. You should also think about what you would do if you got sick in Korea.

Don’t just assume that your family back home or the foreign community of Gwangju will come to the rescue immediately. Take responsibility for yourself. Finally, it is easy to get stuck on a diet of fast food and ramen, but that will come back to haunt you. Try to eat healthy and exercise. Take care of yourself now, so you do not regret it later!

Letter to the Community: Sarah Graydon

 “I was a teacher in Gwangju and had the misfortune of getting ill during my contract. I say misfortune, without being aware of what was to happen during the seven weeks that I found myself in Chonnam National University Hospital, being treated for ulcerative colitis and blood clots.

Lying in my bed my mind was focused on: A. How am I going to pay for this? B. Getting better, and C. I wish they would change this bed for a bigger one.

Well, although C. was not fulfilled, I cannot begin to tell you how much the Gwangju community rallied around to raise money so that I could pay for my treatment. Strangers who had heard about my plight donated, fellow teachers auctioned off their belongings and juggled in the street, cookies were baked and sold – all to help me. I was in awe at the way everybody organized themselves to donate money.

Also the visits were often from complete strangers who just wanted to see how I was doing. These visits lifted my spirits immensely.

I am now back home in the U.K. in the hospital being checked up, but I wanted to express my sincere thanks to all of the Gwangju community for the way in which you all came together to help me.”