Rep. Im Mi-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Provided by Rep. Im Mi-ae's office]
Rep. Im Mi-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Provided by Rep. Im Mi-ae's office]

North Gyeongsang Province has ranked at or near the bottom nationally for in-province medical utilization for five consecutive years, with more than 2 trillion won ($1.47 billion) in annual medical spending flowing out to other regions.

According to data submitted to Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Im Mi-ae by the National Health Insurance Service, North Gyeongsang Province's in-province medical utilization rate stood at 59.7 percent in 2025 — the lowest among 16 cities and provinces nationwide, excluding Sejong.

By comparison, Daegu recorded a rate of 90.4 percent and Seoul 89.7 percent, a gap of roughly 30 percentage points from North Gyeongsang.

The province also trailed other provincial regions: North Jeolla Province posted 81.2 percent, South Gyeongsang Province 74.4 percent, Gangwon Province 71.5 percent, North Chungcheong Province 68.3 percent and South Jeolla Province 63.3 percent.

The low in-province utilization rate has persisted for five years running. The annual figures were 59.4 percent in 2021, 60.0 percent in 2022, 58.9 percent in 2023, 60.9 percent in 2024 and 59.7 percent in 2025, with each year's shortfall translating into an outflow of medical spending.

Of the 5.22 trillion won in total medical costs incurred by North Gyeongsang residents in 2025, 40.3 percent — or 2.1 trillion won — was spent at medical institutions outside the province.

Out-of-province spending totaled 1.7 trillion won in 2021, rising to 1.82 trillion won in 2022 and 1.93 trillion won in 2023. It dipped slightly to 1.92 trillion won in 2024 before climbing again last year to surpass 2 trillion won for the first time in history.

Over the past five years, the cumulative outflow of medical spending from North Gyeongsang residents seeking care outside the province reached 9.47 trillion won.

The province's weak medical infrastructure is the primary driver of residents seeking care elsewhere.

North Gyeongsang is the largest province by area in the country, yet it has only 1.4 doctors per 1,000 residents — among the lowest ratios nationally. The province also has 15 emergency medical underserved areas and not a single tertiary general hospital.

"North Gyeongsang, which has no tertiary general hospital and the highest rate of out-of-province medical use, is precisely the region most in need of a new medical school," Im said. "As the province's only ruling-party lawmaker, I will do everything I can to bring a national medical school here to protect residents' right to life and rebuild the collapsed regional healthcare system."


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