South Korea HFMD medical costs surge tenfold in four years

Medical expenses for hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in South Korea have surged more than tenfold in four years, rising from approximately 3.56 billion won in 2021 to 37.04 billion won last year.

Data released by lawmaker Kim Kyo-heung shows that HFMD primarily affects infants and young children, with 74.8% of patients last year being between 1 and 6 years old. The surge in cases increases the childcare burden on parents, as infected children are often restricted from attending daycare centers.

Despite the rising costs and infection rates, government investment in research and development (R&D) for a domestic HFMD vaccine has been minimal. Over the last decade, there has been only one major R&D project with a total budget of 700 million won. While the Ministry of Health and Welfare is currently working on vaccine commercialization, clinical targets are not expected until 2029.