Medical terms glossary

A specialist is a physician who, after obtaining a medical license, has completed residency training and passed the specialist examination, thereby being certified in a specific clinical field.

A specialist is a physician who holds, in addition to the medical license obtained by graduating from medical school and passing the national examination, a qualification granted to those who have completed internship and residency training at a hospital and passed the specialist certification examination. This system is administered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and a specialist obtains certification in one of 26 specialty fields, such as internal medicine, surgery, or pediatrics. Because the word "specialist" displayed on a hospital website or signboard does not in itself indicate whether the qualification is actually held, one way to verify a physician's specialist certification and specialty field is to use the hospital information search on the website of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) or the information that medical institutions are required to post. Members of the public commonly confuse the statement "a specialist provides care" with the statement "a physician holding specialist certification is on duty at all times."

A general practitioner is a physician who practises with a medical licence only, without specialist certification.

A general practitioner (일반의, ilbanui) is a physician who has graduated from medical school and passed the national examination to obtain a medical licence, but has not completed residency training or passed the specialist board examination. The medical licence itself is issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and general practitioners are legally entitled to hold themselves out as practising in any medical field. However, because their detailed training experience in specific conditions differs from that of specialists, one option is to separately verify whether the attending physician holds specialist certification, using clinic information notices or the healthcare institution's website. Members of the public commonly assume that all physicians at a large hospital are specialists, but this may not be the case.

"Jeongong-ui" (residency trainees) is an umbrella term for interns and residents who, after obtaining their medical licence, are undergoing hospital-based training to become specialists.

Residency trainees are physicians receiving practical training in hospitals in order to obtain specialist qualification. The training pathway is broadly divided into two stages: first, one year as an intern, rotating through several clinical departments to build basic clinical experience; then, after choosing a specialty, 3–4 years as a resident with concentrated training in that specialist field. This training is regulated with respect to training hours, educational content and working conditions through related schemes such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare's evaluation of residency training environments. A common misconception among the general public is to regard residency trainees as being at the level of apprentices. In fact, residency trainees are fully licensed physicians who already hold a medical licence and take part in patient care; they are simply undergoing additional training toward specialist qualification. Judging their competence to perform medical procedures, or their level of expertise, as inferior solely on the basis of the title "residency trainee" therefore cannot be regarded as an accurate understanding.

Reporting of health care personnel is a system under which medical institutions periodically notify the health authorities of the status of their staff, including physicians and nurses.

Reporting of health care personnel is the procedure by which a medical institution registers with the competent authority the status and credential information of the physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other personnel it employs; it is carried out on the basis of the Medical Service Act. The reported information is reflected in the hospital information disclosure system operated by HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) and is provided as a snapshot of personnel status as of a specific reference date. Members of the public can check this information through the hospital information service on the HIRA website, where they can look up the number of physicians reported for a given medical institution and the personnel status by specialty. It should be noted, however, that reported personnel information is based on the time of reporting, so it may differ from the actual staffing composition at the time care is provided.

A National Health Insurance grading system that classifies the basis for calculating inpatient charges according to the ratio of nursing staff to the number of beds.

The nursing grade system classifies healthcare institutions into several grades based on the ratio of nursing staff assigned relative to the number of inpatient beds, and applies different criteria for calculating the nursing management fee included in inpatient charges accordingly. It is based on notifications related to the National Health Insurance Act; the grading criteria are set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, while HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) manages and discloses the data. Grades are distinguished according to a quantitative criterion—the ratio of nurses secured relative to beds—and a particular grade does not indicate the quality or superiority of medical care. Patients and their families can check the nursing grade of individual healthcare institutions through the hospital information disclosure service operated by HIRA. A common misconception is to interpret a higher nursing grade as meaning the overall standard of the hospital is higher; however, this is merely a calculation structure for the nursing staffing ratio and is an indicator separate from clinical outcomes or the standard of facilities.

A declared medical specialty is a subject area a healthcare institution displays after simple notification; it does not mean a board-certified specialist is present.

Declaring a medical specialty (진료과목 표방, jinryogwamok pyobang) refers to a healthcare institution displaying a particular medical specialty on its signage or informational materials after filing a notification with the competent authority under the Medical Service Act. Such a declaration does not guarantee that a board-certified specialist in that field works there on a regular basis; under the current framework, a general practitioner may also declare a particular specialty simply by completing the notification procedure. The related notifications and oversight are handled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the competent public health center (보건소, bogeonso), and the fact of declaration is information separate from the qualification level of the clinical staff. Members of the public who wish to verify whether a board-certified specialist is actually working at a facility can look up the individual physician's specialist qualification separately through the hospital information service of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). A common misunderstanding is to assume, based solely on a display such as "Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine specialty," that care is provided by a board-certified specialist.

Healthcare institution reported information refers to the official records of facilities, staffing, and medical specialties that a hospital registers with the competent authorities.

Healthcare institution reported information consists of data on facility status, staffing status, medical specialties, and similar items that hospitals and clinics submit to the competent public health center (보건소, bogeonso) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare under the Medical Service Act during establishment and operation. This information is made available to the public through disclosure systems managed by HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) and the NHIS (National Health Insurance Service), and can be looked up through hospital search services. Members of the public can use it by searching for the name of a healthcare institution on the HIRA website or related public apps to check the reported medical specialties, staffing status, number of beds, and other details. Because reported information is updated as of a specific reference date, it should be noted that there may be a time lag between the point of inquiry and the institution's actual operating status.

The procedure by which a medical institution reports its actual days and hours of operation to the competent public health center.

Reporting of consultation hours is a system under which a medical institution notifies the competent 보건소 (bogeonso, public health center) of its consultation days, hours, closed days and similar information, both at the time of establishment and whenever changes occur. Under the Medical Service Act and its subordinate regulations, medical institutions are obliged to report their consultation hours and to post them, and public health centers administer this information. Members of the public can check reported consultation hours on the website of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) or on notices posted at the medical institution. However, reported hours may temporarily differ from actual operating hours, so it is advisable to confirm by telephone before visiting.

A procedure in which advertising content distributed by healthcare institutions is examined in advance to screen out false or exaggerated claims.

Medical advertising review is a system under which advertisements produced by healthcare institutions or medical practitioners are examined in advance to determine whether they meet the standards set out in the Medical Service Act. It is based on the Medical Service Act, with related bodies such as the 대한의사협회 (Korean Medical Association) or autonomous review organizations handling the practical work, while the 보건복지부 (Ministry of Health and Welfare) exercises overall management and supervision. Advertisements that pass review carry a review-completed (심의필) mark, and members of the public can confirm whether an advertisement has been reviewed by the presence of this mark. However, it should not be misunderstood that passing review guarantees treatment outcomes or patient satisfaction.

A facility that treats emergency patients; it may operate independently of whether the institution is designated as an emergency medical institution.

An emergency room refers to a treatment area established within a hospital to provide prompt care to emergency patients. Separately from this, institutions designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare under the Emergency Medical Service Act as regional or local emergency medical centers are referred to as emergency medical institutions, and the personnel and facility standards that must be met differ depending on this designation. In other words, having an emergency room does not necessarily mean that a hospital has been designated as a statutory emergency medical institution; designation status can be verified on the website of the 중앙응급의료센터 (National Emergency Medical Center) and other sources. A common misconception among the general public is to judge a hospital's emergency response capability solely by the presence of an emergency room; in practice, the scope of treatment available and whether specialists are on duty at all times vary according to the designation level.

A system that links care in stages from clinic level up to tertiary general hospitals; a referral letter is required when using a tertiary general hospital.

The healthcare delivery system classifies medical institutions into primary (clinic level), secondary (hospital level), and tertiary (tertiary general hospital) levels, linking them so that patients receive care at the appropriate stage. Under the National Health Insurance Act and related public notices, using a tertiary general hospital in principle requires obtaining and submitting a health care benefit referral document, that is, a referral letter; this relates to the benefit criteria administered by the 국민건강보험공단 (NHIS, National Health Insurance Service) and HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). Visiting a tertiary general hospital without a referral letter may result in restrictions on health insurance coverage, so it is necessary to confirm the procedure in advance. A common misconception is that a referral letter is required in every clinical department without exception; emergency situations and certain other exempt grounds are recognized separately.

A collective term for institutions that provide health insurance benefits; in addition to medical institutions, it also includes pharmacies and others.

요양기관 (yoyang gigwan, health care institution) is a collective term, based on the National Health Insurance Act, for institutions that provide health care benefits. It covers not only medical institutions such as hospitals and clinics, but also facilities to which health insurance benefits apply, including pharmacies and public health centers. The designation and management of health care institutions are handled by NHIS (National Health Insurance Service) and HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service), and benefit claims and their review for each institution are also processed through these two organizations. Members of the public can check whether a particular institution is a designated health care institution through the health care institution search service on the HIRA website. A common misconception is to regard 요양기관 and 의료기관 (uiryo gigwan, medical institution) as having the same scope; the difference is that 요양기관 is a broader concept than 의료기관 and also includes non-medical establishments such as pharmacies.

A unique identifier assigned by HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) to each healthcare provider institution, used as a lookup key to distinguish institutions in public data.

The 요양기호 (yoyang giho, provider code) is a unique identifier assigned by HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) when a healthcare provider institution — such as a hospital, clinic, or pharmacy — is established. HIRA and the NHIS (National Health Insurance Service) use this number as the basis for settling medical expense claims, managing institutional records, and linking the various datasets released as public data. By searching for an institution's name on the HIRA website or through the hospital information services provided by the NHIS, you can find the provider code in encrypted form. Note, however, that this number is a separate administrative code, distinct from the institution's actual business registration number or establishment filing number, and the two should not be confused. When distinguishing between institutions with similar names or addresses, cross-checking the provider code allows for accurate identification.

A statutory classification that divides medical institutions into clinics, hospitals, general hospitals, and other categories according to the number of beds and clinical functions.

Medical institution classification by type (의료기관 종별, uiryogigwan jongbyeol) is a classification system that categorizes medical institutions according to bed capacity and the composition of clinical departments as stipulated in the Medical Service Act. This classification includes clinics, hospitals, general hospitals, and tertiary general hospitals. The Ministry of Health and Welfare sets the criteria for each type, and HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) reflects them in its information on healthcare provider institutions. Members of the public can check the classification type of a specific medical institution through HIRA's hospital information service. It should be noted that a higher classification type means a larger scale of facilities and personnel, and is not an indicator that directly represents the quality of care.

A healthcare institution where physicians, dentists, or Korean medicine doctors mainly provide outpatient care, operating with fewer than 30 beds.

Under the Medical Service Act, a clinic (의원, uiwon) is a healthcare institution established by a physician, dentist, or Korean medicine doctor that either has no inpatient beds or operates fewer than 30 beds, and that mainly provides outpatient care. The Ministry of Health and Welfare sets the criteria for establishment, and the competent community health center (보건소, bogeonso) handles the reporting and registration of establishment. Members of the public can check whether an institution is classified as a clinic by looking up the healthcare institution type on the website of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). The designation "clinic" alone does not determine the medical specialties or areas of practice offered, so the specific treatment departments must be confirmed separately.

A medical institution with 30 or more but fewer than 100 beds that provides both inpatient and outpatient care.

A hospital (병원, byeong-won) is a category of medical institution defined under the Medical Service Act on the basis of having 30 or more beds, and is equipped with the facilities and personnel to provide inpatient and outpatient care concurrently. The Ministry of Health and Welfare sets the establishment and facility standards, while HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) manages and publishes information on bed counts and clinical departments. Members of the public can check bed capacity and institutional classification through HIRA's hospital information service. It should not be assumed that the designation "hospital" necessarily implies the same range of clinical departments as a general hospital.

A medical institution required to have 100 or more beds and to maintain several essential clinical departments with specialist physicians.

Under the Medical Service Act, a general hospital is a medical institution that must have 100 or more beds and maintain the essential clinical departments prescribed by law—such as internal medicine, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology—along with full-time specialists assigned to each department. The Ministry of Health and Welfare issues the detailed criteria by public notice, and HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) discloses information by institution type through its data on the current status of healthcare institutions. Members of the public can check the composition of clinical departments and the number of beds on the HIRA website to determine whether an institution qualifies as a general hospital. It should be noted that the designation "general hospital" is not the same as "tertiary general hospital" (상급종합병원, sanggeup jonghap byeongwon); the two institution types are classified under separate criteria.

A long-term care hospital is a medical institution intended for the long-term inpatient care of patients with chronic conditions or geriatric diseases.

A long-term care hospital (요양병원, yoyang byeongwon) is one of the categories of medical institutions defined under the Medical Service Act, providing inpatient treatment for patients who require long-term care, such as those with geriatric or chronic diseases. Establishment and operation are governed by the Medical Service Act; compliance with staffing and facility standards is overseen by the competent local government, and related information can be checked through the Hospital Information Service of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). Long-term care hospitals are often confused with long-term care facilities (요양원, yoyangwon, nursing homes) because of the similarity in their names. The difference is that a long-term care hospital is a medical institution where physicians are resident and medical procedures are performed, whereas a 요양원 is a welfare facility rather than a medical institution. When deciding on admission, it is necessary to confirm this difference in the nature of the institution.

A Korean medicine hospital is a medical institution where Korean medicine doctors provide Korean medicine treatment on a specialized basis.

A Korean medicine hospital (한방병원, hanbang byeongwon) is one of the categories of medical institution defined under the Medical Service Act. It is an institution with inpatient capacity in which Korean medicine doctors provide diagnosis and treatment according to the theories and methods of Korean medicine. The criteria for establishment and the staffing requirements are based on the Medical Service Act, while coverage under National Health Insurance and the classification of treatment items follow the standards of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). Korean medicine hospitals and Korean medicine clinics (한의원, hanuiwon) differ in whether they maintain inpatient beds and in their scale. The fact that an institution is designated a hospital does not mean that all of its treatment items are covered as National Health Insurance benefits. Confirming whether health insurance applies before receiving treatment is helpful in practice.

A dental hospital is a medical institution in which dentists provide specialized dental care and which is equipped with inpatient facilities.

Under the Medical Service Act, a 치과병원 (chikwa byeongwon, dental hospital) refers to the category of medical institution in which dentists provide care related to the oral cavity and teeth and which is equipped with hospital beds. Establishment requirements and facility standards are set out in the Medical Service Act and its associated enforcement rules; notification of establishment and any subsequent changes are registered with the competent local government, and the related information can be searched through the hospital information service of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). Unlike a dental clinic (치과의원, chikwa uiwon), a dental hospital may operate hospital beds, including inpatient rooms, and this serves as the distinguishing criterion. However, the designation "hospital" does not necessarily indicate specialization in a particular clinical department or a broader scope of care, so the specific services offered should be verified separately.

Bed reporting is the legal procedure by which a medical institution notifies the competent authority of the number and types of beds it holds.

Bed reporting is a procedure prescribed by the Medical Service Act requiring medical institutions to report the number and types of inpatient beds they operate to the competent local government at the time of establishment or of any change. Reported bed data are managed through local governments and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the general public can also check bed numbers through services such as the Hospital Information Service of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). Bed reporting information can serve as a reference for gauging the size of a hospital, but the reported number of beds does not always match the number of beds actually in operation, so separate confirmation is needed before use. Bed types are reported by category, including general beds and intensive care beds.

A hospital with the capacity to treat severe diseases, designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on a three-year cycle.

A tertiary general hospital is a hospital designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare from among general hospitals that meet certain criteria, including treatment capacity for severe diseases as well as staffing, facilities and equipment. Under the Medical Service Act and related notifications, hospitals undergo a re-designation procedure every 3 years, and designation status can be checked on the websites of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). Once designated as a tertiary general hospital, the institution operates a care system centered on severe diseases; for visits involving mild conditions, health insurance coverage may be limited without a referral letter. Designation indicates the scale and function of a hospital's services and does not imply the superiority or inferiority of any particular medical department. Members of the public may understand the designation as a classification of hospital tier, but should note that it is not necessary to use a tertiary general hospital for the treatment of all conditions.

A primary care institution where a Korean medicine doctor (한의사, hanuisa) performs Korean medicine practice.

A 한의원 (hanuiwon, Korean medicine clinic) is a medical institution in which a Korean medicine doctor (한의사, hanuisa) provides examination and treatment through Korean medicine practice; under the Medical Service Act it is classified at the clinic level. Its establishment and operation are governed by the Medical Service Act: notification of establishment is filed through the public health center (보건소, bogeonso), and the competent local government administers it. Treatment items and whether non-covered (non-reimbursed) items are disclosed can be verified through the non-covered medical fee disclosure data of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). Korean medicine clinics provide Korean medicine care such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine prescriptions, and do not perform Western medicine procedures such as surgery or injections. Korean medicine clinics (한의원) and Korean medicine hospitals (한방병원, hanbang byeongwon) differ in the number of beds and in whether inpatient admission is available, so scale should not be judged from the name alone.

A primary care institution where dentists treat oral and dental conditions.

A dental clinic (치과의원, chigwa uiwon) is a clinic-level medical institution in which dentists are responsible for diagnosing and treating conditions of the oral cavity, teeth, and jaw. Under the Medical Service Act, establishment is reported to the community health center, and the competent local government administers records on establishments. Information on treatment costs and non-covered (non-reimbursed) items can be checked through the non-covered treatment cost disclosure system on the website of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). Dental clinics generally operate with a focus on outpatient care and typically do not maintain inpatient beds. Dental clinics and dental hospitals are distinguished by the presence of beds and by scale; this is not in itself a basis for concluding that the range of treatment items differs.

A hospital-level medical institution equipped with facilities for the diagnosis, treatment and inpatient care of people with mental illness.

A psychiatric hospital is a hospital-level medical institution that meets the facility and staffing standards required for the diagnosis, treatment and inpatient management of mental illness. The criteria for establishing and operating such a hospital are set out in the Act on the Improvement of Mental Health and the Support for Welfare Services for Mental Patients (Mental Health Welfare Act) and the Medical Service Act, and a hospital is established with the authorization of the competent local government. Information on facility status and establishment can be verified through data from HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) and the NHIS (National Health Insurance Service). Some psychiatric hospitals operate both closed and open wards, and separate legal requirements apply, such as admission procedures and whether the consent of a legal guardian is required. Admission to a psychiatric hospital does not in itself mean involuntary admission; it should be noted that several types exist, including voluntary admission and admission by consent.

A system under which HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) evaluates and publishes, by assessment item, whether hospitals' care processes and outcomes meet appropriate standards.

The Quality Assessment of Health Insurance-Covered Care is a system in which HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) evaluates, by disease and by procedure, whether the quality and cost of care covered by national health insurance have been appropriate. HIRA conducts these assessments periodically in accordance with the National Health Insurance Act and related regulations, and the results are published on the HIRA website in the form of grades or indicators. However, not all medical departments or conditions are subject to assessment, and a high grade for a specific condition does not mean that all clinical areas of that hospital are at the same level. When checking the results, it is more accurate to search by the specific disease or procedure name of interest and review only the assessment results for that item.

Levels assigned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which designates hospitals as regional emergency medical centers, local emergency medical centers, and so forth according to facility, staffing, and equipment criteria.

Emergency medical institution designation levels form a classification system under which the Ministry of Health and Welfare, pursuant to the Emergency Medical Service Act, reviews a hospital's emergency room capacity, specialist staffing, and standard of equipment and facilities, and then designates it as a 권역응급의료센터 (gwonyeok eunggeup uiryo senteo, regional emergency medical center), 지역응급의료센터 (jiyeok eunggeup uiryo senteo, local emergency medical center), 지역응급의료기관 (jiyeok eunggeup uiryo gigwan, local emergency medical institution), or similar. A higher level means the institution is equipped with more resources for treating severely ill or injured emergency patients; this information can be checked through channels such as the emergency medical services portal of the National Medical Center. A common misconception is to assume that an institution with a lower designation simply provides a lower standard of care. The designation level is an indicator of the scale of emergency medical resources and the scope of response capability, and is a separate matter from the appropriateness of care for patients with mild conditions. When actually seeking care, it is important to identify an institution whose designation level matches the severity of the symptoms.

A public screening program in which the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) provides screening for state-designated cancer types to eligible individuals free of charge or at low cost.

The National Cancer Screening Program is a screening initiative conducted under the Cancer Control Act by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the 국민건강보험공단 (NHIS, National Health Insurance Service), covering specific cancer types including gastric, liver, colorectal, breast, cervical and lung cancer, and carried out at regular intervals according to age and risk group. Eligible individuals can check their eligibility and the applicable screening items through the notification letter sent by the NHIS, the NHIS website, or the 손안에 건강 (Son-ane Geongang, "Health in Your Hand") app. Screening may only be received at designated screening institutions; examinations performed at non-designated institutions are not recognized as part of the National Cancer Screening Program. A common misconception is that undergoing national cancer screening allows all cancers to be detected early; screening is carried out only within the scope of the designated cancer types and the specified examination methods.

A system under which a medical institution must register with the Ministry of Health and Welfare in order to lawfully attract and treat foreign patients.

Registration of medical institutions for attracting foreign patients is a system established under the Act on Support for Overseas Expansion of Healthcare System and Attraction of International Patients, whereby only medical institutions registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare may attract and treat foreign patients. Registration status can be verified through the relevant system operated by the 한국보건산업진흥원 (Korea Health Industry Development Institute, KHIDI) or through notices issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. If an unregistered institution engages in activities to attract foreign patients, this may constitute a violation of the Act, and registration status is a matter that should be verified before entering into a treatment agreement. A common misunderstanding is to interpret registration as certification of expertise in a particular medical specialty; registration indicates that the administrative requirements for eligibility to attract foreign patients have been met.

A system under which the Ministry of Health and Welfare designates hospitals that meet defined requirements in a specific disease area or clinical department.

Specialty hospital designation is a system for designating hospital-level medical institutions that meet requirements set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare — such as patient volume, staffing and facilities — in a specific disease group or clinical department. It is based on the Medical Service Act; designations run for set periods and are subject to re-designation review. Whether a hospital is designated, and in which field, can be checked on the websites of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). The designation title includes the name of the relevant disease or clinical department, which means that the hospital has met the care requirements for that particular field — it does not indicate the standard of care across the hospital as a whole. Members of the public should check the designated field as well, so as not to assume from the specialty hospital title alone that all clinical departments have received the designation.

Refers to an institution designated to carry out the national health screening program of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).

Designation as a health screening institution is a system under which medical institutions that meet the qualifications to perform the national health screening program administered by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) are formally designated. It is based on the Framework Act on Health Examinations, and institutions that satisfy the standards for personnel, equipment and facilities are registered after completing the designation procedure. Information on designated institutions can be checked through the screening institution search service on the NHIS website. Designated institutions must obtain separate designation for each type of screening, such as general health screening and cancer screening, so if you wish to receive a specific screening item, you should confirm whether the institution is designated for that item. One common misunderstanding is the assumption that designation as a screening institution means the institution can perform all screening items.

Participating medical institutions designated to provide pediatric care during night-time hours and on holidays.

달빛어린이병원 (Dalbit Children's Hospital, "Moonlight Children's Hospital") refers to medical institutions designated and supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare so that children with mild conditions can receive care on weekday evenings, weekends, and public holidays. Participating institutions and operating hours vary by region, so before visiting you should always verify the facility's actual consultation hours through the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the relevant local government, or the National Emergency Medical Center portal. A common misconception is that 달빛어린이병원 facilities always operate 24 hours a day; in practice, pediatric care is available only during the night-time and holiday hours designated for each individual hospital. In addition, unlike an emergency room, these facilities are operated for the treatment of mild pediatric illnesses rather than severe emergencies.

A hospital designated to train residents after passing the resident training environment evaluation.

A training hospital is a hospital designated as an institution for resident training after passing an evaluation by the Resident Training Environment Evaluation Committee, which is operated by the 보건복지부 (Ministry of Health and Welfare), the 대한병원협회 (Korean Hospital Association) and others in accordance with regulations on the training environment and training standards for residents. Designation is determined on the basis of whether certain criteria—covering facilities, staffing, educational programs and other elements—are met. Members of the public can check whether a hospital is a designated training hospital through the hospital's website or through materials published by the Korean Hospital Association and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. There is a common misconception that a hospital provides a higher level of care simply because it is a training hospital; however, the designation concerns the conditions for resident education and is not an indicator directly linked to clinical outcomes.

An accreditation system under which the Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation reviews whether an institution meets safety and quality management standards.

Healthcare accreditation is a system based on the Medical Service Act under which 의료기관평가인증원 (KOIHA, Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation) evaluates patient safety and healthcare quality management systems to confirm whether the required standards are met. For institutions at the hospital level or above, applying for accreditation is voluntary; however, long-term care hospitals and psychiatric hospitals are required to obtain accreditation. Accreditation results and validity periods can be checked on the KOIHA website, and can also be confirmed from the certificate posted within the hospital. A common misconception is to assume that an accredited hospital is uniformly superior to one that is not accredited; accreditation indicates only whether the standards were met at a specific point in time and does not represent overall clinical performance.

Refers to medical service items for which National Health Insurance covers part of the cost under the National Health Insurance Act.

Medical care benefits refer to those medical services—among items necessary for treatment such as consultations, tests, pharmaceuticals, procedures, and surgery—for which the National Health Insurance Service is designated to bear a certain portion of the cost, based on the National Health Insurance Act. Whether an item is covered and the applicable co-payment rate are determined by notifications issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and by the benefit criteria of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service); coverage status for individual items can be searched on the HIRA website. Even for the same test or treatment, coverage may differ between covered and non-covered depending on the diagnosis or the conditions under which it is performed, so it is necessary to confirm in advance. A common misunderstanding is the assumption that covered items are entirely free; coverage means that insurance bears part of the cost, while the remainder is paid by the patient.

Medical service items not covered by National Health Insurance, for which the patient pays the full cost.

Non-covered services (비급여) are items that, under the National Health Insurance Act, are excluded from the scope of health insurance benefits or are separately designated. For these services, the National Health Insurance Service does not share the cost, and the patient pays the full amount. The composition of items and the method of calculating charges may differ from one medical institution to another, because prices are not uniformly set by law. Patients have the right to receive an explanation of non-covered items and their costs from the hospital before treatment. A common misconception is that a non-covered service is necessarily unnecessary or improper care; in reality, such services are often medically indicated treatments that simply fall outside the benefit criteria of the health insurance system.

Treatment items not covered by National Health Insurance, for which the patient pays the full cost.

Non-covered (비급여, bigeumyeo) services are items excluded from health insurance benefits under the National Health Insurance Act, or otherwise separately designated, for which the National Health Insurance Service does not share the cost and the patient pays the full amount. The composition of items and the method of calculating prices may differ from one medical institution to another, because the law does not set these prices uniformly. Patients have the right to be informed by the hospital about non-covered items and their costs before treatment. A common misconception is that a non-covered service is necessarily unnecessary or improper; in reality, such services are often medically indicated treatments that simply fall outside the benefit criteria of the National Health Insurance system.

Refers to the portion of health-insurance-covered medical costs that the patient is required to pay directly.

An out-of-pocket payment (본인부담금, bonin budamgeum) is the amount a patient pays directly at the hospital reception desk out of the total health-insurance-covered medical costs, excluding the portion paid by the 국민건강보험공단 (NHIS, National Health Insurance Service). This structure is set out under the National Health Insurance Act, and the method of cost-sharing is designed differently depending on the type of treatment and the classification of the medical institution. Because whether a payment is required and how it is calculated differ according to whether an item is covered (급여) or non-covered (비급여), checking the covered/non-covered breakdown shown on the payment receipt is the way to understand the actual cost-sharing structure. A common misconception is that if there is no out-of-pocket payment, the entire medical cost is free; however, non-covered items are paid in full by the patient, separately from the out-of-pocket payment structure. Exact details of the amounts charged can be confirmed through the itemized statement of medical expenses (진료비 세부산정내역서).

Refers to the portion of health insurance–covered medical expenses that the patient is required to pay directly.

Out-of-pocket payment (본인부담금) refers to the amount a patient pays directly at the hospital payment desk, that is, the remainder of total health insurance–covered medical expenses after deducting the portion paid by the NHIS (National Health Insurance Service). This structure is determined under the National Health Insurance Act, and the method of cost-sharing is designed differently depending on the type of treatment and the class of medical institution. Because whether an item is covered (급여) or non-covered (비급여) determines both whether out-of-pocket payment applies and how it is calculated, checking the covered/non-covered classification indicated on the payment receipt is the way to understand the actual cost-sharing structure. A common misunderstanding is to assume that if there is no out-of-pocket payment, the entire medical bill is free; however, non-covered items are paid in full by the patient, separately from the out-of-pocket payment structure. Exact details of the amounts charged can be confirmed through the itemized statement of medical expenses (진료비 세부산정내역서).

A National Health Insurance registration program that lowers the patient's out-of-pocket costs for treatment of a registered condition, such as a severe or rare disease.

The Special Copayment Calculation Program (산정특례, sanjeong-teungnye) is a program under which patients diagnosed with one of the conditions designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare — such as cancer, rare diseases, or severe intractable diseases — may register with the NHIS (National Health Insurance Service) and have a separate method of calculating out-of-pocket costs applied to care related to that condition. Registration takes place through a procedure in which the medical institution responsible for the diagnosis issues the required documents, and the patient or the hospital then submits the application to the NHIS. The period of coverage is set for each condition, and in some cases a re-registration procedure is required once that period expires. A common misconception is that registration applies to all medical costs; it does not apply to care that is not directly related to the registered condition. Registration status and the applicable coverage period can be confirmed through the NHIS website or its counseling center.

Refers to items positioned between full insurance coverage and non-covered status, for which a separate patient co-payment rate is set and managed.

Selective benefit coverage refers to items that the Ministry of Health and Welfare has designated for management under a separately determined co-payment structure at a stage prior to their conversion into fully covered benefit items, taking into account factors such as therapeutic effectiveness and cost burden. Such items are designated on the basis of the National Health Insurance Act and related public notices, and the method of calculating the patient co-payment differs from that applied to ordinary covered benefit items. On medical fee receipts and itemized statements, selective benefit items are indicated separately from ordinary covered items and non-covered items. A common misunderstanding is to equate selective benefit coverage with non-covered services and assume that the patient bears the full cost; however, selective benefit coverage differs from non-covered services in that it is an item to which health insurance applies. Whether coverage applies to a particular item can be verified through the benefit criteria materials published by HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service).

A quasi-governmental body under the Ministry of Health and Welfare responsible for reviewing health insurance medical fees and evaluating the quality of care.

HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) is an institution established under the National Health Insurance Act. It reviews whether the medical fees claimed by healthcare institutions are appropriate and evaluates the quality of health services. It operates under the policy direction of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and also handles public disclosure functions, such as publishing non-covered (non-reimbursed) medical fees and providing information on individual hospitals' medical services. Members of the public can search the HIRA website to check non-covered costs by hospital, results of quality assessments, and similar information. A common misconception is that HIRA collects health insurance contributions or pays out benefits; those functions are carried out by 국민건강보험공단 (NHIS, National Health Insurance Service).

The agency responsible for health insurance finances and subscriber management, including the assessment and collection of health insurance contributions and the payment of insurance benefits.

The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단) is an institution established under the National Health Insurance Act. It assesses and collects health insurance contributions from the public and manages subscriber eligibility. It also pays healthcare institutions the portion of covered treatment costs borne by health insurance, based on the review results of HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service). The NHIS operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and is additionally responsible for national health screening programs and the operation of Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly. Members of the public can check their contribution payment records, eligibility for health screening, and similar information through the NHIS website or its branch offices. A common misconception is that the NHIS reviews the appropriateness of treatment costs; in fact, this review function is carried out by HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service).

A public institution under the Ministry of Health and Welfare that supports the development of the health and medical industry and conducts policy research.

The Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) is an agency under the Ministry of Health and Welfare that supports the development of the health and medical industry, along with related policy research, statistical surveys, and workforce training. It has no direct role in hospital medical fee review or in managing National Health Insurance finances; its work centers mainly on industry promotion and policy support. Its principal functions also include supporting the overseas expansion of Korean healthcare services and publishing health industry statistics. Members of the public rarely use KHIDI directly to choose a hospital or check medical costs; such information is generally obtained through HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) or the NHIS (National Health Insurance Service). A common misconception is that KHIDI is responsible for hospital evaluation or the public disclosure of medical fees, but those functions fall under HIRA's jurisdiction.

The central government body with overall responsibility for health and medical policy, including health insurance and the oversight of healthcare institutions.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is a central administrative agency established under the Government Organization Act. It formulates policy on public health and welfare and administers the related statutes and systems. The Ministry designs the framework of the health insurance system, establishes information-disclosure policies such as the system for publishing non-covered (non-reimbursed) treatment costs, and manages and supervises the work of its affiliated organizations, HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) and the NHIS (National Health Insurance Service). Legal authority over the healthcare system as a whole — including the criteria for establishing medical institutions and the management of licences for healthcare professionals — also rests with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Members of the public can check policy announcements and changes to the system through the Ministry's website. A common misconception is that the Ministry itself reviews individual medical bills or pays out insurance benefits; these operational tasks are handled by its affiliated organizations.