Have you ever needed to find a specific hostpial or clinic in Korea for a health challenge that you've faced, but didn't know where to go? Korea has a complex system of hospitals and clinics of which many medical services don't overlap. Finding trusted information on healthcare options can be difficult if you don't know where to look.

To overcome these challenges in healthcare information access, SOS Public Health and Fedmedi collaborated to create the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group.

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South of Seoul Public Health is starting a new initiative: Maternal and Child Health. This initiative aims to research and improve access to maternal healthcare information for the multinational community living in South

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Why is self-advocacy important? Self-advocacy is an important skill that empowers you to take control over your life decisions, such as decisions based on healthcare. Your experiences are unique to you. Therefore, YOU know what you need best and YOU should advocate for your needs when possible. However, advocating for yourself is not always easy, especially when you live in a foreign country. So, what are some ways that you can build your self-advocacy skills? Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please note that the pronunciation of some Korean words may be inaccurate due to AI technology’s limitations. How do I advocate for myself with a problem-solving mindset? Having a problem solving-mindset is key to self-advocacy in healthcare. According to the Knowledge Network for Innovations in Learning and Teaching, “people that have a problem solving mindset are conditioned to not give up on a problem, they have a sense of confidence and self-esteem when faced with adversity.” In order to maintain this mindset you must stay informed about your situation, know your rights, find support in your community, have self-determination, and speak up in a constructive way. Practicing these techniques will give increase your confidence in your ability to access healthcare while living abroad (and even in your native country). But how do you do this in South Korea where you may be unfamiliar with the language, culture, and may also lack community? Well, it isn’t always easy but it also isn’t impossible. We are here to connect you with your stepping stones toward self-advocacy. Stay Informed Doing research about the area you live in and learning about the resources available is a great way to start advocating for your health. When you move to a new city or town, do an online search via Naver Maps or Kakao Maps for nearby hospitals and visit those hospitals. Research important phone numbers to call in case of an emergency. Doing these small tasks will allow you to decrease stress and build confidence in your ability to navigate your area in the case of a medical emergency. There are also several online resources that help the international community in Korea stay informed about current events and information. A few of the resources include but are not limited to: Know Your Rights Have you ever avoided getting medical care in Korea for fear of receiving poor care and not being able to do anything about it? Have you ever avoided seeking medical care because you didn’t know whether you even had access to health insurance? Understanding your healthcare and legal rights as an international resident in Korea is a great way to advocate for yourself in these situations. All registered international residents who have lived in the country for 6 months or more have a right to National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and basic medical care. If you are curious to learn more about NHIS, check out Expat Guide Korea’s blog, “Everything You Need To Know About The Korean National Health Care System.” Furthermore, if you ever find yourself in a situation where your rights are being violated, Korea provides free legal services and resources, such as where to file complaints as well. Knowing your rights can really help you build autonomy and give you the ability to self-advocate for your health. Stay informed about your rights as an international resident of Korea and increase your confidence in your ability to navigate Korea’s healthcare system. Find Support For some, finding support in a foreign country is as easy as pie. For others, it can be the most difficult task on the planet. Building your own support system in a foreign country can be daunting, especially if you don’t know where to look. In Korea, many reach out for social support online. A recent survey by South of Seoul Public Health discovered that about 60% of respondents utilize social media for social support. South of Seoul is an online community that focuses on supporting the international public in Korea. This South of Seoul Blog breaks down social support systems and their importance, especially in times of crisis. A solid support system allows you to self-advocate by validating your experiences and challenges accessing healthcare in a foreign country. Knowing that others face the same challenges and are working together to create positive solutions boosts morale and motivation. Self-Determination This may go without saying, but self-advocation requires a level of self-determination. Self-determination is the process of taking control of and making decisions that affect your life instead of letting others do it for you. With self-determination, you can choose to stay informed about your rights and access to healthcare in Korea; you can choose to have a problem-solving mindset; you can choose to reach out to your community for support; or you can choose not to. The choices you make impact how you integrate into the society you live in and your access to resources. Self-determination doesn’t mean making choices all on your own. Here are some ways to build up your self-determination: Easier said than done, right? Understand that building self-determination is a process. Many factors can affect your ability to make choices about your life, especially while living in a foreign country. For example, mental health can be influenced by culture shock and derail your efforts towards building self-determination. English-language options for online counseling services that address culture shock and improve mental health are available in Korea. Taking care of your mental health is the first step in the process to self-determination. Speak Up What better way is there to advocate for yourself than to speak up. Speaking up for yourself and your right to healthcare is the obvious path to self-advocacy. Nevertheless, speaking up is not always a simple task. Because we live in a world of varying cultures and opinions, voicing your opinions and experiences may be a challenge. There may also be a lingering fear of rejection from your community for speaking up about your situation. That said, you may be surprised by how supportive and understanding your community (expat and Korean) is to your experiences. Remember, you are not alone. Others in your community may also be waiting for someone to speak up so they can openly discuss their situations, too. Be that someone. Here are some constructive ways to speak up: What other resources are available to help me self-advocate? Staying informed, knowing your rights, finding support, having self-determination, and speaking up are just a few ways to practice self-advocacy. When you want to advocate for yourself, knowledge is your friend. Research online, explore your community and connect with local friends to build your confidence in the healthcare system in Korea. Utilizing available resources and your community will help you become the best advocate for yourself. Below are some additional resources that can help you get started on your journey: Self-advocacy is not about doing it alone. It is about connecting with community and articulating need! Follow SOS Public Health for More Resources Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on SOS Public Health Initiatives. If you have questions about healthcare in Korea, visit the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group, or feel free to message SOS Public Health with any questions or concerns. Apply for an SOS Public Health Practicum Opportunity Are you a graduate student looking for practical experience in public health? Apply for a an SOS Public Health Practicum! Click below to learn more about the SOS Public Health Practicum Program. Research Design & Implementation Team UX/UI Supervisor & Editor Primary Researcher & Author Lisa Peck, MPH, CPHMs. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis. Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC. In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation. www.southofseoul.net

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