Non-paywalled: https://archive.md/KXSss
This is an article from 6 months ago. Not much has changed yet. I'm praying (and I'm an atheist~~) I don't have to go to the emergency room with my kid. I live in a so-called developed country, yet a simple but urgent medical emergency can turn out to be fatal. I was reminded of this as I was reading these testimonies from a few fellow dads on the internet:
On Tuesday my daughter fell off a high chair while playing with her brother. Unfortunately she landed awkwardly and broke her arm. After calling 119, it took us 3 hours and 7 hospitals later to find one that would take her. St Mary's in Yeouido is only a 10 minute walk from our house. The staff there told us that due to doctors resigning in protest at the government's policy to increase medical student numbers. They Unfortunately couldn't take her, and all the other bigger hospitals were the same. Thankfully we found a small private hospital in Gangnam that took her, and operated immediately. I didn't realize how serious this doctor situation is, but now I definitely do. Hopefully it can all be resolved quickly, although the current President doesn't seem to want to negotiate.
happened to us few months back. my 2yr old had a gash on his head and needed some stitches on his forehead. got sent away by some ERs for being understaffed. had to ask a favor to dad in law's contact who is a boss at some hospital to call someone to attend to us. took 4hrs since the accident til getting stitched due to bouncing around different hospitals who could take my son in.. was very stressful!
I was very sick a month ago, passing out because of high fever, went to a big uni hospital's ER. I passed out while waiting, had to wait 3hours! I thought I was gonna die. An old guy next to me was legit dying, they just said they can't help...no docs or beds available...if your kid gets sick and you go there with a life threatening sickness, they will die...it is horrible!
a friend told me that his two year old was going from unconscious to screaming in agony and back, and was turned away from two hospitals. There was a news story a few months back about a suicide attempt teen who was also turned away from a couple hospitals and ultimately died (i think in daegu). If child has an emergency, best to call emergency services as they should know which hospital will admit a child.