Incheon Won Hospital human rights investigation

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has filed complaints against the director of Incheon Won Hospital in Michuhol-gu for professional negligence, illegal confinement, and directing unlicensed medical practices.

The investigation follows the deaths of four patients between January and June of 2026. Findings indicate that patients with dementia, intellectual disabilities, and schizophrenia were subjected to prolonged isolation and physical restraint. In one reported case, a patient with an intellectual disability was confined in a locked room for 325 days before dying of asphyxiation.

According to the commission, the hospital operated without medical staff during nighttime hours, leaving nursing assistants and caregivers to perform isolation and restraint procedures. The hospital is also accused of falsifying records regarding staff presence and failing to provide adequate nutrition or communication rights. The commission has recommended administrative sanctions, such as business suspension or license revocation, and has urged the Ministry of Health and Welfare to improve practices in mental health facilities.