Simpyeong Law Firm · Medical Litigation
Surgical injuries, misdiagnosis, anesthesia and birth injuries, cosmetic surgery complications. Our medical litigation lawyers read your records from the first page and pursue compensation under Korean law, whether you live in Korea or have already returned home.
Korean law lets patients claim compensation for medical negligence regardless of nationality. We build the case on records, expert review and causation.
When an international patient files a claim, we explain the medical basis of the treatment and handle the civil, criminal and administrative sides together.
01CASE TYPES
Each type turns on different records and different medical questions.
Rhinoplasty, eyelid, facial contouring, liposuction, breast surgery, filler and Botox complications, and surgery performed by a different doctor than agreed.
Nerve, vessel or organ damage during surgery and delayed response to complications afterward.
Cancer, stroke or heart attack diagnosed too late, and missed findings in health check-ups.
Oxygen deprivation or cardiac arrest during general or sedation anesthesia, including propofol sedation.
Delayed response to fetal distress, newborn brain injury and maternal hemorrhage.
Nerve damage from implants or wisdom tooth extraction, and orthodontic disputes.
Wrong drug or dose, injection-related nerve damage and allergic reactions.
Delayed emergency care or transfer, hospital-acquired infection, and falls or pressure sores during admission.
02FIRST STEPS
The weeks right after an injury decide what evidence will exist later.
Your health comes first. Photograph and date any change in your condition.
Under Article 21 of the Korean Medical Service Act, patients and family members can request copies of medical records, nursing notes, anesthesia records and imaging. Ask for the complete file before you leave Korea if possible.
Save contracts, receipts, consent forms, chat messages with the clinic or agency, and any recordings.
A settlement or waiver usually ends further claims. Check whether future treatment and lasting effects are covered first.
We review the records with physicians in the relevant specialty and advise whether mediation or a lawsuit fits your case.
03DEADLINES
Missing a deadline can end a claim even when negligence is clear.
Limitation period for damages
Civil Act Art. 766(1)Outer limit even if harm was discovered late
Civil Act Art. 766(2)From the start of mediation, extendable once by 30 days
Medical Dispute Mediation ActFrom the start of mediation, extendable once by 30 days
Medical Dispute Mediation Act04INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS
Many cases involve patients who came to Korea for treatment and have since gone home.
Claims for treatment received at a Korean hospital are generally decided under Korean law in Korean courts or through K-medi mediation.
Records can be obtained through an authorized representative, and much of the case can be handled with documents and remote meetings. Court appearances or medical examinations may still be required in some cases.
Hospitals registered to treat international patients are required to carry medical liability insurance or equivalent coverage, which can matter for recovery.
Keep the documents from any facilitator or agency and the translated consent forms. What you were told, and in which language, can be part of the case.
05FAQ
Yes. Nationality does not limit a claim for medical negligence in Korea. Whether a claim will succeed depends on proving negligence and that it caused the harm.
No. An unsatisfying result is not negligence by itself. The questions are whether the procedure met the expected standard of care, whether risks were explained, and how complications were handled.
You can request them directly or authorize a representative in Korea to request them for you. We can help prepare the authorization and the request.
The Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency offers expert appraisal and mediation. An agreed mediation has the same effect as a court settlement. It is often faster than a lawsuit, but it is not the right path for every case.
Medical lawsuits in Korea often take one to several years, depending on expert appraisals and appeals. We explain the expected timeline after reviewing the records.
Yes. Send your message in your language. We review it and contact you to arrange the consultation, with interpretation where needed.
06 · Consultation
Leave your contact details and a short description. Our medical litigation lawyers review it and get back to you. Your information is used only to review your case.
