Private ambulance injures pedestrian while blaring siren in nonemergency situation

A pedestrian who was hit by a privately operated ambulance that was not carrying a patient remained unconscious for over a week and a half as of Tuesday, reigniting controversy over the operation of these ambulances.

According to local media reports, the driver of the ambulance, a man in his 20s, collided with an SUV and then hit a pedestrian at around 11 a.m. on March 8 at an intersection in Seoul’s Sangbong-dong. Of the three injured in the accident — the two drivers and the pedestrian — the pedestrian suffered the most severe injuries and has not yet regain consciousness.

The driver told police he had dozed off while behind the wheel. It was also revealed that despite not carrying a patient, he had turned on the sirens.

Police are seeking charges against the driver for injuries caused in the accident.

South Korea allows for the operation of privately run ambulances alongside state-owned vehicles to assist the state's 119 rescue authorities. These private ambulances are operated by authorized business entities and are equipped with sirens, but do not bear the "119 rescue" label on the vehicle.

The chief operation of the private ambulances is to handle the transfer of patients between hospitals. Vehicles with a red stripe carry more urgent patients, while green-striped cars carry nonemergency patients. Certified private ambulances are categorized as emergency motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act, meaning that drivers are mandated to yield when either public or private ambulances are using their sirens.

As of February 2024, there were 1,206 privately run ambulances under operation by 145 companies, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety. Of some 239,000 transfers between hospitals in 2022, 89 percent were via private ambulances, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

While private ambulances carry out a crucial role in the country's medical system, there have been reports about such vehicles being used illegally for nonemergency transportation. In 2023, it was reported that singer Kim Tae-woo had used a private ambulance to avoid traffic while on his way to a concert. He was fined 5 million won ($3,450).

Previously in 2018, it was reported that similar cases of private ambulances being used for regular transfers had occurred in Ulsan with two singers.

Unlike official state-run ambulances that are free of charge in emergency situations, the private ambulance system is funded by patients. Much like a taxi, patients are on the hook for a base fare as well as additional charges by distance.

Regular private ambulances operated by medical institutions charge 30,000 won for the first 10 kilometers and 1,000 won per kilometer after that, while a surcharge of 15,000 won is added in for the accompaniment of medical staff.

Emergency private ambulances start at 75,000 won for the first 10 kilometers and charge 1,300 won per kilometer after that. Surcharges are added for nighttime operation.

It is illegal to charge more than the regulated amount, but there have been media reports of several private ambulance operators overcharging patients or their legal guardians by exploiting their lack of knowledge on the matter. A YTN report in 2021 revealed testimony by a former employee of such a company of charging 1 million won for a distance that should have cost about 120,000 won.

Another issue is a lack of medical equipment and medications inside private ambulances, which are mandated by law for every such vehicle.

There have been 304 cases in which private ambulance operators were punished for unlawful operation, according to a 2024 Health Ministry report submitted to Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the ruling People Power Party. Of the 304 cases, 94 were for not having sufficient equipment and medication inside the cars.

The Health Ministry has vowed countermeasures, including both better monitoring of their operation and raising fares for private ambulances. Private ambulance fares have remained at the current level since 2014.