South Korea Enhances Emergency Medical Services with Revised Regulations

South Korea is strengthening its emergency medical system through revisions to the Enforcement Rules for the Emergency Medical Services Act, aiming to improve the capacity to treat serious and emergency patients. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the planned changes on February 27, 2026, with a public notice period open until April 8, 2026.

Strengthened Criteria for Emergency Medical Centers

The revisions focus on clarifying the required medical functions and resource levels for regional and regional emergency medical centers. This includes defining essential emergency room capabilities like endotracheal intubation, defibrillation, and mechanical ventilation, as well as post-emergency surgical and procedural expertise, such as managing critically ill patients and performing emergency brain and abdominal surgery. Centers will need to demonstrate dedicated departments and specialists to provide these treatments.

Increased Staffing Standards

Manpower standards are also being increased. Regional emergency medical centers handling over 30,000 patients annually will now require one specialist for every 5,000 people, a significant increase from the previous ratio of 1:10,000. Regional emergency medical centers will need to maintain a ratio of one specialist per 7,000 people.

To address potential staffing challenges, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is expanding the range of medical specialties eligible to be considered emergency room specialists, adding obstetrics and gynecology and family medicine to the existing list of 10 approved specialties.

Enhanced Information Management

The number of personnel dedicated to emergency medical information management at regional emergency medical centers will increase from two to four, with a requirement for 24-hour coverage by at least one person. This aims to improve the efficiency of the 24-hour emergency patient transport system.

Operating Room and Facility Standards

Regional emergency medical centers will be permitted to use general operating rooms for emergency cases, provided they maintain a 24-hour operation system and prioritize emergency patients. Facility standards now require local emergency medical centers to have at least three beds in emergency-only hospitalization rooms and two or more beds in emergency-only intensive care units.

Mandatory Reporting and Surveys

The revised regulations mandate emergency medical institutions to report information on their facilities, equipment, personnel, patient availability, and reasons for non-acceptance to the central emergency medical center. A fresh emergency medical status survey will gather data on emergency medical demand, service utilization, facility status, 119 rescue activity, and other relevant policy information. Dedicated emergency medical communication lines are also required at regional and regional emergency medical centers.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will finalize the amendments after considering public and medical community feedback submitted by April 8, 2026. Opinions can be submitted to the Emergency Medical Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare or the Public Participation Legislation Center.