Two institutions where undocumented foreigners can receive medical expenses

Currently, there are about 400,000 foreign residents living in Korea without registration. It just doubled from about 200,000 six years ago.

If you stay in the unregistered state, you will experience various difficulties because you cannot receive social services in Korea. One of them is health insurance.

Foreigners also suffer from various kinds of work at work, causing abnormalities in their bodies. Then, foreign residents who do not receive health insurance benefits will inevitably experience great disappointment. Because hospital bills are too expensive.

For this reason, many inquiries come to Papaya Story to see if there is an institution that supports hospital expenses even for undocumented foreigners. Two services were summarized.

Healthy Neighbor Center

The Korean Red Cross operates six Healthy Neighbor Centers (hncenter.or.kr) across the country that support hospital expenses even for undocumented foreigners.

Seoul (02-2002-8684) and Incheon (032-899-4000), Gyeongbuk Sangju (054-530-3029), Gyeongnam Tongyeong (055-644-8901), Gyeongnam Geochang (055-949-) 3368) and Yeongju, Gyeongbuk (Tel: 054-630-0167).

The hospital expenses supported by the Healthy Neighbor Center for undocumented migrants are about 50-90%. The application rate is different for each of the six hospitals, so it is better to call and inquire.

In the case of the Seoul Healthy Neighbor Center, up to 90% of the support is available, and since it operates a foreigner-only center, it is good to come to Seoul and receive treatment if possible. You can receive support after 90 days from entry, and you can receive up to 15 million won a year. 02-2002-8684

Gyeonggi Community Chest of Korea

From November this year to August 2025, Gyeonggi Community Chest of Korea will carry out the ‘Community Chest of Korea Medical Expense Support Project for unregistered immigrants’.

We are currently in the stage of preparing for this project, and we plan to start the medical expense support project in earnest in November. Detailed standards for this project will be announced in November.

The Gyeonggi Community Chest of Korea said that undocumented foreigners must reside in Gyeonggi-do, but it is safe to say that virtually all migrants across the country are eligible as they cannot prove their residence due to the nature of undocumented people. 031-220-7923

Reporter Hasung Song