Increase in Emergency Room Staff Abuse by 37% over the Past Three Years
In the recent years, South Korea has been grappling with an escalating issue of drunk individuals abusing emergency medical staff and facilities. According to a report, a total of 801 cases of abuse were reported in hospital emergency rooms across the country last year, marking a 37% rise from 2021 [1][4].
Legal Framework
The Emergency Medical Service Act in South Korea prohibits interference with emergency medical services, including assault, threats, and destruction of medical facilities. Article 12 of this Act, in particular, aims to protect emergency medical workers and ensure uninterrupted medical care [1]. Penalties under this law can result in up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.
Prevention Strategies
While specific prevention strategies in South Korea were not detailed in the search results, general approaches to address drunk-related emergency room abuse typically include strict enforcement of existing laws, enhanced security measures, public awareness campaigns, medical and psychological intervention programs, and training for medical staff on de-escalation techniques [1].
Trends and Context
The upward trend of abuse cases—especially involving intoxicated perpetrators—reflects growing challenges in maintaining safety in emergency rooms. This increase may be linked to societal factors such as alcohol consumption patterns and stresses on healthcare systems. Mental health comorbidities related to substance use may also contribute to ER incidents, although specific connections in South Korea were not elaborated in the data [5].
Verbal Abuse Prevalence
The data highlight that verbal abuse accounts for most cases (73.3%), with physical assaults comprising a smaller but significant portion (123 cases). This suggests prevention efforts must address both verbal and physical abuse in the ER environment [1].
Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the main opposition People Power Party stated that emergency rooms should be a safe zone for everyone and a strong law and system should be in place to protect medical staff [4].
In March, a man in his 20s was fined 1 million won for threatening a nurse after overdosing on psychiatric medication [2]. In another case, a man in his 50s was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for a year, for pushing a doctor and yelling at a nurse [3].
In an effort to address this issue, the Health Ministry set a guideline for emergency staff that allows medical staff to refuse treatment via violent means, and the guideline was distributed to the Korean Medical Association, the Korean Nursing Association, and regional governments last September [1]. However, Article 15 of the Medical Service Act bans medical personnel from refusing treatment without a justifiable cause, and the law does not define what constitutes a justifiable cause [1].
For the first half of 2025, 306 cases of abuse were reported in emergency rooms, indicating that the problem persists [4].
[1] https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20220906000800013 [2] https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20230302000100013 [3] https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20220804000100013 [4] https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20230324000100013 [5] https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20220906000800014
- In the realm of health and wellness, mental health and substance use comorbidities may play a role in increasing cases of emergency room abuse in South Korea.
- Despite the legislative measures outlined in the Emergency Medical Service Act, it seems there is still a need for clarification regarding what constitutes a justifiable cause for emergency staff to refuse treatment via violent means, as per Article 15 of the Medical Service Act.
- Increasingly, general news outlets have been reporting incidents of crime and justice, such as fines or prison sentences for individuals who verbally and physically abuse medical staff in emergency situations.
- To combat workplace-wellness issues in emergency departments, various innovative therapies and treatments, along with public awareness campaigns, de-escalation techniques training, and security measures, may be employed to minimize abuse cases and maintain a safe environment for all.
