Half of hospice care facilities concentrated in Seoul metropolitan area, raising concerns over regional access

South Korea faces a significant imbalance in hospice care access, with nearly half of all specialized hospice institutions and over half of inpatient beds concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area. Data reveals that out of 126 hospice facilities nationwide, 60 are located in the capital region, comprising Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon.

Gyeonggi Province leads with 29 facilities, followed by Seoul with 25 and Incheon with 6. This concentration extends to inpatient capacity, where the metropolitan area holds about 51.4% of the total 1,851 beds. This leaves non-metropolitan regions with considerably fewer resources for end-of-life care, potentially impacting patients outside the capital.

While discussions about fostering a 'well-dying' culture gain momentum, the geographical disparity in hospice services highlights a critical challenge. The data, submitted to the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee by Rep. Seo Young-seok, underscores the urgent need to strengthen regional hospice infrastructure to ensure more equitable access to palliative care across the country.

Regions outside the capital show starkly lower numbers. Busan and Daegu have the highest counts in non-metropolitan areas with 9 facilities each. Other regions like Jeonbuk and Gyeongbuk have 6 each, followed by Chungbuk with 5. Cities like Gwangju, Chungnam, Daejeon, Gangwon, and Jeonnam have 4 each, while Ulsan has 3 and Jeju has 2. This uneven distribution raises concerns about whether all citizens can readily access the necessary support during their final days.