2025年10月20日，韓國釜山發生一起令人震驚的醫療事故，一名高三男生突發劇烈痙攣，最終不幸身亡。據韓聯社、《韓民族日報》等多家媒體22日報導，事件揭露當地急診醫療體系在關鍵時刻的失靈，引發社會廣泛關注與批評。

當天早晨6時17分，釜山一所高中撥打119急救電話，稱一名男生倒地並出現劇烈痙攣，但仍有呼吸。急救隊於6時33分抵達現場時，發現學生意識模糊、全身抽搐。依據重症度分類標準，急救人員將其判定為五級中的二級“緊急”，並按照規定，向可以處理痙攣患者的地方急診醫療中心逐一聯繫，請求收治。

從6時44分開始，急救隊先後聯絡包括海雲台白醫院、東亞大學醫院、釜山大學醫院在內的多家醫院，但均以「無法收治小兒重症患者」或「無小兒神經科診療」為由拒絕收治。由於患者需要在救護車內持續進行止痙等緊急處置，119急救隊隨即向釜山消防急救管理狀況中心請求支援，中心協助聯繫多家醫院，但仍未獲任何收治同意。直到7時25分左右，患者病情急劇惡化並發生心臟驟停，急救人員將其重症度上調為一級“心肺復甦”。直至7時30分，第十五家醫院——大同醫院才確認可以收治，救護車最終於7時35分抵達醫院。從急救電話撥出到送達醫院，整個過程耗時1小時18分鐘。

這起事件一經曝光，即在韓國社會引發強烈反響。公眾紛紛質疑急診醫療體系的效率與責任，尤其是在處理兒童重症患者時的應急能力。國會披露的急救記錄顯示，即便在急救隊全力協助下，多家醫院的拒收行為仍延誤了寶貴的救治時間，最終導致無法挽回的悲劇。社會各界呼籲政府和相關部門檢討急診醫療體系運作，改善對兒童及重症患者的收治機制，以防止類似事件再次發生。

On October 20, 2025, a shocking medical incident occurred in Busan, South Korea, when a high school senior suddenly suffered severe convulsions and ultimately passed away. Reports from Yonhap News Agency and The Hankook Ilbo on November 22 revealed the tragic event, which exposed critical failures in the local emergency medical system and sparked widespread public criticism.

At 6:17 a.m., a high school in Busan called the 119 emergency number, reporting that a student had collapsed and was experiencing severe convulsions but was still breathing. When the ambulance team arrived at the scene at 6:33 a.m., they found the student with blurred consciousness and full-body seizures. According to the severity classification system, the patient was assessed as a Level 2 “emergency” on a five-level scale. Following protocol, the team began contacting local emergency medical centers capable of treating convulsion patients, seeking acceptance for the patient.

Starting at 6:44 a.m., the ambulance team reached out to multiple hospitals, including Haeundae White Hospital, Dong-A University Hospital, and Pusan National University Hospital, but all refused treatment, citing reasons such as “unable to treat pediatric critical patients” or “no pediatric neurology department.” Since the patient required ongoing seizure control inside the ambulance, the 119 emergency team requested support from the Busan Fire Emergency Management Center, which assisted in contacting additional hospitals, yet none agreed to admit the patient.

Around 7:25 a.m., the patient’s condition worsened rapidly, resulting in cardiac arrest. The ambulance team upgraded the severity level to Level 1 “cardiopulmonary resuscitation.” It was not until 7:30 a.m. that the fifteenth hospital, Daedong Hospital, confirmed it could accept the patient, and the ambulance finally arrived at the hospital at 7:35 a.m. From the initial emergency call to hospital arrival, the entire process took 1 hour and 18 minutes.

The incident immediately sparked intense public outrage in South Korea. Citizens questioned the efficiency and accountability of the emergency medical system, particularly regarding the treatment of critically ill children. The records disclosed by the National Assembly highlighted that, despite the ambulance team’s best efforts, repeated refusals by multiple hospitals delayed crucial care, ultimately resulting in an irretrievable tragedy. The public and experts have called on the government and relevant authorities to review and improve the emergency medical system, ensuring timely treatment for pediatric and critical patients to prevent similar tragedies in the future.