South Korean medical clinic closures spark consumer protection concerns

Between 2022 and August 2026, there were 1,157 consumer complaints regarding the closure or suspension of medical institutions in South Korea, according to data from the Korea Consumer Agency. Dermatology and dentistry accounted for the majority of these issues, representing 68% of total complaints, with 487 cases for dermatology and 300 for dentistry.

Most complaints were related to contract issues, including 548 cases of non-fulfillment of contracts and 184 cases involving contract cancellations or penalties. These issues often lead to patients being unable to recover prepaid medical fees or having their ongoing treatments interrupted.

Under current medical laws, clinics must provide notice of closure via on-site signage and websites at least 14 days in advance. While inpatient patients must be notified directly 30 days prior, there is no legal requirement for direct notification of outpatient patients. This gap leaves long-term treatment patients and those who have prepaid fees vulnerable to missing closure announcements. Representative Seo Young-seok has called for a strengthened patient protection system to ensure medical rights and the recovery of fees.