Korean Healthcare Landscape
Korea’s healthcare system is consisted of 3 levels of medical care:
Primary Care, Secondary Care, and Tertiary Care
Each level provides different types of services, depending on the complexity of the patients’ illness and their needs.
Learn more about each level and its identifying features.
At K-DocConnect, we aim to help you navigate the system as swiftly as possible to get you the care you need.
Primary
Primary level medical care includes primary care and specialist clinics.
Primary level clinics provide general outpatient care and handle common illnesses. Most patients’ medical needs are met on primary level.
Primary level clinics do not require referral.
Secondary
Secondary level medical care providers include mid-size hospitals with specialized departments.
Secondary level hospitals provide both outpatient and inpatient care. They provide more complex procedures than primary clinics.
Secondary level hospitals require referrals to pay within Korean NHIS coverage. For out-of-pocket payers, secondary level hospitals do not require referrals.
Tertiary
Tertiary level medical care providers include specialized general hospitals and university operated hospitals.
Tertiary level hospitals provide both outpatient and inpatient care, focusing on serving patients with more severe and complex circumstances.
Tertiary level hospitals require all visiting patients to have referrals from primary level clinics.
