# South Korean government medical expense dispute with Choi > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-government-medical-expense-dispute-with-choi > Updated: 2026-10-15T05:59:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. The South Korean government initiated a legal dispute to recover approximately 39.27 million won in medical expenses paid for Choi Seo-won, a central figure in a former administration's influence-peddling scandal. The costs were covered by the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center in October 2020 following surgery Choi required after a fall in a detention center bathhouse. The legal conflict centered on the statute of limitations under the National Finance Act. The government argued that a payment notice sent to Choi in October 2020 interrupted the five-year limitation period. Choi’s legal team countered that the lawsuit was filed too late, as the five-year period had already expired. Ultimately, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the government’s claim. The court ruled that the statute of limitations had expired, finding that the government’s notice did not meet the formal legal requirements of a proper ‘payment notice’ because it lacked a formal payment resolution and a detailed basis for the calculated amount. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-15: South Korean court rejects government claim for Choi Seo-won's medical bills A South Korean court ruled that the government cannot recover 39 million won in medical expenses from Choi Seo-won because the statute of limitations had expired due to improper legal notification. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-court-rejects-government-claim-for-choi-seo-wons-medical-bills ### 2026-10-07: South Korea sues Choi Seo-won over unpaid medical expenses South Korean authorities are suing Choi Seo-won to recover 39.27 million won in medical expenses, facing a legal battle over whether the five-year statute of limitations has expired. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-sues-choi-seo-won-over-unpaid-medical-expenses --- Cite as: South Korean government medical expense dispute with Choi. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-government-medical-expense-dispute-with-choi