Filipino boy Vincent Valente (14) was born with congenital heart disease – atrial septal defect and partial pulmonary venous return issue. Seoul Natl Univ Med School's Lee Jong-wook Global Medicine Center was doing health checks for low‑income Filipino teens and found Vincent’s heart problem. The center invited Vincent to Korea. He got heart surgery at Seoul Natl Univ Hospital in Bundang. The surgery cost was covered by the Korea Heart Foundation and the hospital staff donors group “Snubi Sharing Club”. Flight and stay costs were helped by Rafael Sharing. After surgery Vincent recovered and left the hospital safely. The medical team said the support from many donors made accurate diagnosis and proper treatment possible, and they felt grateful.
원문 보기Why did the Filipino boy’s heart disease get treated all the way in Korea?
A 14‑year‑old Filipino boy named Vincent got heart surgery in Korea and left healthy. But when you look into the story, there are more than a few questions.
How did a Korean hospital find out about a Filipino boy's heart disease? Who paid for the surgery? And more importantly, can I, a foreigner living in Korea, get this kind of help? I'll explain step by step.
What is atrial septal defect
Can foreigners get Korean health‑insurance benefits
Who pays for these free surgeries
Actual steps for foreigners using Korean hospitals
Why go so far for atrial septal defect?
The heart has 4 chambers. The upper two are called left and right atria, and a hole in the wall between them is called atrial septal defect (ASD). Because of the hole, blood from the left side leaks into the right, making the right heart and lungs work harder.
It’s hard to notice when you’re a baby. The problem shows up if you leave it untreated for a long time. Even a little running makes you out of breath and tired, the heart may flutter, and in severe cases it can lead to scary complications like heart failure or pulmonary hypertension. Vincent’s situation seems to fit this.
Treatment depends on where and how big the defect is. Sometimes a thin tube is inserted through the femoral vein to close the hole – a simple procedure. If the hole is large or there are other problems, you need open‑heart surgery with a patch. Saying “just do the procedure for this disease” is wrong.
Getting out of breath or tired easily when exercising.
Your chest often pounds or your pulse is irregular.
Your legs or feet often swell.
Kids born with a hole in their heart, how many are there in Korea?
Hover the mouse over the bar. Note the two countries use different criteria, so just get a feel for a 'not rare' disease, not a direct comparison.
Can foreigners get health insurance for this surgery?
To put it simply, foreigners who are NHI members or dependents get the same benefits as Koreans. The catch is the path to ‘enrollment’ differs by status.
| Type of enrollment | Key requirements | |
|---|---|---|
| Employee enrollee | Work at a health‑insurance‑covered company + foreigner registration | |
Note Can join right away, no 6‑month waiting | ||
| Local enrollee | Generally need to live in Korea 6+ months | |
| Dependent | Family relation + meet support, income, asset criteria | |
| When having heart surgery | If special calculation applies, patient pays 5% (up to 30 days) | |
How was Vincent discovered?
Actually, it started at a health checkup spot in the Philippines, not with a heart doctor.
2012 — Center’s birth
The "Lee Jong-wook Global Medicine Center" opened at Seoul Nat’l Univ. Med School, continuing Dr. Lee’s wish to tackle global health issues.
2019 — To the Philippines
The center started school health checks and nutrition improvement for students at the “Maria Boys’ Home” in the Philippines.
2025 — 660 screened
We screened a total of 660 people, including about 400 freshmen. Seoul National University medical students also planned a diet and hand‑washing campaign and took part. In this screening, Vincent's heart disease was found.
2026 — Surgery invited by Korea
The center invited Vincent to Korea, and after his surgery at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital he recovered and was discharged.
Who pays for these free surgeries?
"Isn't it just the Korean government covering everything?" is an easy thought, but actually many parties share the costs of airfare, accommodation and surgery. The same was true for Vincent – the Korea Heart Foundation and the hospital staff donors group “SNU Bi-an Sharing” paid the surgery fee, and Rafael Sharing covered the flight and stay costs.
| Responsibility | Main cost covered | |
|---|---|---|
| Central government (Ministry of Welfare·Promotion Agency) | Airfare·stay cost·administration | |
Confirmed cases 2011‑2024: invited 434 people from 28 countries (Sharing Medical project) | ||
| Local government | Airfare·domestic transport·local medical cost | |
| hospital·hospital foundation | surgery fees·hospitalization fees | |
| private foundations·NGOs·companies·religious groups | surgery cost aid·interpretation·post‑return care | |
It's not only Vincent's story.
Actually, these invited surgeries happen several times each year. But there’s no official nationwide yearly stats, so we can’t say exactly how many per year.
| time | who | which hospital | who sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | Vincent, Philippines (14) | Bundang Seoul Natl Univ Hospital | Korea Heart Foundation·SNU Bi‑Anna‑Nam·Raphael‑Nam |
| Aug 2026 | 6 patients from Cambodia | Bucheon Sejong Hospital | KB Kookmin Bank·Financial Supervisory Service·Missionaries (cumulative 113 since 2012) |
| July 2026 | 4 patients from Kyrgyzstan | Gil Hospital | Incheon City Asian exchange city medical support project |
| Feb 2025 | 4 patients from Mongolia | Bucheon Sejong Hospital | local gov·chamber·church·hospital·Mongolia local foundation joint sponsorship |
Can a foreigner like me get this help?
To get fully free invited treatment like Vincent, you usually need to meet conditions like living in a low‑income country, having a certain disease, and passing a sponsor’s pre‑screening. It’s not a service anyone can just apply for.
If you're a foreigner already living in Korea, it's different. If you have national health insurance or are a dependent, you get the same benefits as Koreans. The problem is when you have no insurance—costs vary a lot, so it's safer to get a written cost estimate from the hospital instead of relying on rumors.
Interpretation is the same. Assuming big hospitals will automatically have English can cause trouble. Many hospitals, even within the same one, require you to request an interpreter at the time of booking.
Forget interpreter worries, start with 119. In a real emergency they’ll dispatch for free anywhere in the country, regardless of nationality or insurance.
ER visits aren't free. You have to pay after the consultation.
International Medical Center – this is how to use it.
Big hospitals run a separate 'International Medical Center (IHC)' for foreign patients. It usually goes like this.
Step 1: Reservation
You can book via website, phone or email. If you prepare symptoms, diagnosis, history, meds and recent test results beforehand, it’s much easier.
Step 2: First‑visit registration
Bring your passport or alien registration card. Some hospitals ask you to bring a photo ID and recent medical records.
Step 3: Consultation and referral
The IHC doctor checks first, and if needed connects you to the right specialty.
Step 4: Tests, treatment, payment
You get tests and treatment, then pay. If you have no insurance, outpatients pay up front and some hospitals ask inpatients to pay most of the estimated cost early.
Step 5: Request diagnosis report and records
If you need an English diagnosis or medical record, ask now. Keep it for insurance claims.
So what does this mean for me?
Vincent's story shows you don't have to be alone. A small health check in the Philippines led to a discovery that, after going through Korean hospitals, foundations and sponsors, changed a child's life.
For us foreigners living in Korea, this story gives a tip. First, check if you have health insurance, and know in advance which hospital’s international clinic to go to when you’re sick. That will be the most reliable preparation if something happens to you or your family.
Check with NHIS (033-811-2000, English service) if your visa type allows health insurance enrollment.
Save the contact info of hospitals with international clinics in your frequent area.
Remember: 119 for emergencies, Medical Korea (+82-2-1577-7129) for non‑emergency advice.
I'll tell you how to live in Korea.
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