Emergency room visits drop nearly 40% during Chuseok holiday

Public cooperation and dedication of healthcare workers keep emergency services afloat during Chuseok

The number of non-emergency patients visiting South Korea’s emergency rooms during the Chuseok holiday (Sept. 14-17) dropped by nearly 40% compared to last year, according to government data. Despite concerns about a potential “medical crisis,” most medical staff worked as usual, and emergency rooms focused on treating severe cases.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said on Sept. 18 that no major incidents or disruptions occurred due to medical shortages, crediting healthcare providers, medical staff dedication, and public cooperation for helping emergency rooms prioritize serious cases.

Following a strike by trainee doctors in February, the number of doctors at regional emergency centers fell by about 400 compared to last year. Despite the shortage, 408 of the nation’s 411 emergency rooms remained open 24/7 during the holiday. Officials say the decision by non-urgent patients to seek care at local clinics instead of large hospitals helped prevent overcrowding in emergency rooms.

Paramedics transport a patient to the emergency room at Boeun Hanyang Hospital in Boeun County, North Chungcheong Province, on the morning of Sept. 18, 2024, the final day of the Chuseok holiday./Shin Hyun-jong

An average of 27,505 patients visited emergency rooms each day during the holiday, a drop of more than 25% from last year’s Chuseok (39,912) and this year’s Lunar New Year (36,996). Non-emergency visits dropped 37.9%, from 26,003 last year to 16,157 this year.

Local clinics played a critical role, with an average of 9,781 clinics open daily during the holiday — double the number during last year’s Chuseok (5,020) and nearly triple that of this year’s Lunar New Year (3,643). Government efforts to support medical institutions helped increase participation, surpassing the original target of 8,954 clinics. Even on Chuseok day, 2,223 clinics were open, about 600 more than during previous holidays.

“Many doctors opened their clinics to help alleviate public anxiety,” a representative from the Seoul Medical Association said.

Throughout the holiday, emergency room staff nationwide continued their work as usual. At Boeun Hanyang Hospital in Boeun County, North Chungcheong Province, the region’s only 24-hour emergency room for a population of 30,000, staff treated around 400 patients, including those with abdominal pain, broken ribs, burns, bee stings, and dialysis needs.

“If we close, residents would have to travel over an hour to Cheongju or Daejeon for emergency care,” said Dr. Song Seung-heon, the hospital’s medical director. “We treated patients even in the middle of the night, taking short naps between shifts.”

The hospital operates at a financial loss — around 1.5 billion won annually — but remains committed to serving the community. “Our ER generates about 50 million won a month, while operating costs, including staff salaries, total 150 million won,” a hospital official said. “Still, we feel responsible for ensuring timely care for emergency patients in the region.”

However, concerns are growing about the future. It has been seven months since trainee doctors left the field, and the remaining medical staff are feeling the strain. Experts warn that without immediate changes, emergency rooms may face even greater challenges in the coming months.

“Burnout among medical staff is ongoing, and the situation in emergency rooms could worsen after the holidays,” said Dr. Lee Kyung-won, an emergency medicine professor at Yongin Severance Hospital.

Dr. Lee Sung-woo, the medical director of Korea University Anam Hospital, said, “Fatigue has significantly reduced emergency room staff’s ability to treat patients. The government needs to engage more proactively with doctors to give those on the front lines hope that their colleagues, including trainees, will soon return.”