Before you ever set foot in Korea, the hospital treating you will likely want to see your medical records first. Sending your medical records to Korea properly — in the right format, through the right channel — can mean the difference between a fast, focused treatment plan and weeks of back-and-forth after you’ve already arrived. This guide covers what to prepare, how each Big 5 hospital handles remote review, and the steps to get it right the first time.
Why Sending Medical Records to Korea Ahead of Time Matters
Remote record review isn’t a courtesy — Each year, roughly 20,000 foreign patients travel to Asan Medical Center alone for conditions like cancer and organ failure, and hospitals have built infrastructure specifically to review cases before patients arrive, according to Korea Biomedical Review. A written second opinion, delivered within a few business days of submitting your records, lets you confirm a hospital is the right fit before committing to travel — and can significantly shorten your in-person visit once you land.
What to Prepare Before Sending Your Records
At minimum, most Korean hospitals request:
- A summary of your diagnosis and treatment history — not necessarily your entire chart, but a clear narrative of what’s been found and treated so far
- Recent imaging — CT, MRI, or PET scans, ideally in DICOM format rather than printed film photos
- Lab results and pathology reports, especially anything tied to a specific diagnosis
- A list of current medications
- Your local physician’s referral or opinion, if you have one
- Insurance documentation, if you’re seeking direct billing coordination
Unlike domestic Korean medical record transfers — which require notarized consent forms and family relation certificates under Korean medical law —records coming from abroad generally don’t need Korean-specific notarization, per Samsung Medical Center’s international patient guidelines. What matters more is completeness and, ideally, an English-language summary rather than a full untranslated chart in your home country’s language.
Medical Records Korea: How the Big 5 Hospitals Handle Remote Record Review
| Hospital | Remote Review Process | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Asan Medical Center | A newly launched AI-powered platform lets patients upload symptom descriptions, photos, and CT/MRI data directly; the system automatically translates records into eight languages and links to the hospital’s internal system for physician review | Preliminary assessment before consultation; second opinion in 3–5 business days |
| Samsung Medical Center | Records submitted are reviewed ahead of a scheduled video consultation; Korean medical law requires a local physician to be present with the patient during the call | Video consultation scheduled after records review |
| SNUH | Records reviewed by the International Healthcare Center coordination team before referral to the appropriate specialist | Varies by department |
| Severance | Records submitted through the overseas patient management team, which handles cases from Russia, Kazakhstan, the UAE, Mongolia, and other regions | Coordinated case-by-case |
| Seoul St. Mary’s | Records reviewed through the International Healthcare Coordination Center; appointments arranged based on submitted history | Coordinated case-by-case |
(Note: processes and turnaround times can change — always confirm current procedures directly with the hospital’s IHC.)
Step-by-Step: Sending Medical Records to Korea
- Contact the IHC first — don’t send records cold to a general hospital email; go through the international healthcare center so they reach the right team
- Prepare a summary document, ideally in English, alongside your original records
- Export imaging in DICOM format when possible — a picture of an X-ray on your phone is far less useful to a radiologist than the original scan file
- Ask which platform or method the hospital uses — some, like Asan, now have dedicated upload platforms; others may request records via secure email or fax
- Confirm receipt and next steps — most hospitals will provide a written opinion or schedule a video consultation once your records are reviewed
A Note on Privacy
Sending medical records internationally means your health information crosses borders. Korean hospitals are required to safeguard patient health information under Korean law, but you should also confirm what platform or method is being used before uploading anything — avoid sending sensitive records through unsecured email or messaging apps when a hospital’s dedicated system is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my records translated into Korean before sending them?
No — English is generally sufficient, and most Big 5 hospitals have English-speaking coordinators and physicians. A clear English summary is often more useful than a fully translated original-language chart.
Can I get a treatment plan without traveling to Korea first?
Often, yes — a written second opinion or remote consultation can outline a preliminary plan, though a final treatment plan typically requires an in-person visit for further testing.
What if my home hospital won’t release my records digitally?
Ask for a printed copy with imaging on CD, which you can still send by courier or bring with you — most Korean IHCs accept both digital and physical formats.
Whichever hospital you choose, sending your medical records to Korea properly,
in the right format, is the single biggest factor in how quickly your
treatment plan comes together.
Related Guides
For more on how each hospital’s international healthcare center works day to day, see our full comparison of Korea’s international healthcare centers, or our hospital-specific guides for SNUH, Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center, Severance, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital.
