PURPOSE
This study was done to identify the experience of health care services by foreign residents in Korea.
METHOD
Participants were 12 foreigners from China, North America, and Japan. Qualitative data were collected using three focus group interviews and analyzed with qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS
The participants' experience of health services was categorized as 21 sub-categories, 11 categories and three main categories. The main categories were 'Quality of health care', 'Health care personnel', and 'Health care system and infrastructure'. The main category of 'Quality of health care' included three categories, 'Health care personnel' included another four categories, and 'Health care system and infrastructure' included the remaining four categories. The participants reported positive experiences such as favorable feelings and satisfaction particularly, with the high quality of health care but also negative experiences such as apprehension, distrust, difficulties, and inconvenience in the health care service in Korea.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study can be helpful in the development of strategies to improve health care services for foreigners by providing fundamental information about the foreign residents' experience of health care services in Korea from their perspectives.

Citations

• Experiences in Healthcare Management among International Students Living in Korea
  Jiwon Kim, Su Mi Oh, Do-Young Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2025; 32(1): 45.     CrossRef
• Healthcare utilization among foreign beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance program in Korea
  Juhyang Lee, Haryeom Ghang
  BMC Health Services Research.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Factors Influencing Satisfaction with Medical Institutions according to Health Condition and Medical Use Condition of Single Elderly Households in Rural Areas: Using the Results of Survey on Rural Well-being 2021
  Min U Lee, Gi Chun Seo, Eun-Jung Hong
  The Korean Journal of Community Living Science.2023; 34(3): 457.     CrossRef
• Effects of health literacy competencies on patient-centered care among nurses
  Yaki Yang
  BMC Health Services Research.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Public Health Center Service Experiences and Needs among Immigrant Women in South Korea
  Duckhee Chae, Hyunlye Kim, Minjeong Seo, Keiko Asami, Ardith Doorenbos
  Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing.2022; 33(4): 385.     CrossRef
• Comparative analysis of cardio-cerebrovascular complications in immigrants and native-born Koreans with diabetes: Risk factors and perspectives
  Hyemin Cho, Sohyun Jeoung, Cinoo Kang, Sunmee Jang, Chaisiri Angkurawaranon
  PLOS ONE.2022; 17(4): e0263046.     CrossRef
• Nonverbal Communication of Symptoms: Visualization and Cognition of Symptom Pictograms on User Comprehension
  Qi Wang, Yesel Jun, Hyunju Lee
  Archives of Design Research.2022; 35(2): 7.     CrossRef
• CULTURAL COMPETENCE LEVEL, ITS IMPORTANCE, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS FOR CULTURAL COMPETENCE AMONG NURSES CARING FOR FOREIGNERS IN KOREA
  Nageong KIM, M. N., Dong-Hee KIM, Jungha PARK
  Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews.2019; 7(5): 286.     CrossRef
• The Effects of Korean Medical Service Quality and Satisfaction on Revisit Intention of the United Arab Emirates Government Sponsored Patients
  Seoyoung Lee, Eun-Kyung Kim
  Asian Nursing Research.2017; 11(2): 142.     CrossRef
• Caring Experiences of the Nurses Caring for Foreign Inpatients of non-English Speaking
  Hye-Young Jang, Eun Lee
  Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.2016; 17(12): 415.     CrossRef
• An Integrative Review on Family-Centered Rounds for Hospitalized Children Caring
  Mihae Im, Jina Oh
  Child Health Nursing Research.2016; 22(2): 107.     CrossRef
• Development of test for Korean functional health literacy in dentistry
  Hyun-Kyung Kim, Hie-Jin Noh, Im-Hee Jung, Won-Gyun Chung, Yun Lee, So-Jung Mun, Hyun-Sun Jeon, Sun-Young Han, Eun-Hee Choi, Jun-Sung Ki, Min-Ji Koo, Ju-Hui Jeong
  Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene.2016; 16(3): 355.     CrossRef
• Effects of a Multicultural Course on the Multicultural Acceptability and Competency of Nursing Students
  Myeong Jeong Chae, Jin-il Kim, Jin Hee Lee
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.2015; 21(3): 373.     CrossRef
• Nurses' Prejudice toward Foreigners: Focus Group Interviews
  Kyoung A Nam, Seongmi Moon
  The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing.2015; 18(1): 57.     CrossRef
• Effects of Multicultural understanding subject on the Empathy and Multicultural Attitude of Nursing Student
  Hyw-Young Hwang, Yeol-Eo Chyn, Jung Hur
  Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.2015; 16(1): 106.     CrossRef
• A Comparison Study using Mixed Methods on Foreign Residents' Satisfaction with Korean Health Care Services
  Keum Soon Kim, Jung Won Ahn, Jin A Kim, Hee Jung Kim
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2014; 44(1): 86.     CrossRef
• Employment Experiences of Nurses Caring for Foreign Patients
  Hyoung-Sook Park, Su-Jung Ha, Jung-Ha Park, Ji-Hyoung Yu, Sang-Hwa Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2014; 20(3): 281.     CrossRef
• Analysis of Prejudice Toward Foreigners by Nurses and Physicians in Korea
  Kyoung A Nam, Geum Hee Jeong
  Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing.2013; 27(3): 437.     CrossRef
• Factors Influencing Level of Health Literacy of Migrant Workers in Korea
  Jung Mi Lee, Eunjoo Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2013; 20(3): 269.     CrossRef
• Key Elements for the Improvement of Healthcare Services for Foreigners in Korea: A Delphi Study
  Hyeonhee Lee, Byoungsook Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2012; 18(2): 137.     CrossRef