Barriers to Healthcare Utilization Among Chinese International Students In South Korea: A Phenomenological Study

Background

With the growing number of international students in South Korea, Chinese students constitute the largest group (30.2%). However, their experiences of healthcare utilization have received relatively limited attention. Since 2021, international students have been mandatorily enrolled in the National Health Insurance system. Despite this, prior studies indicate that migrants utilize healthcare services at lower rates than South Korean nationals, suggesting a gap between formal access and actual use. Existing research also tends to treat international students as a homogeneous group, limiting the ability to capture variations across national backgrounds. Moreover, much of the literature relies on quantitative approaches, which may not fully capture how individuals experience and interpret healthcare utilization in context. At the same time, Chinese international students maintain connections with healthcare resources in their home country, reflecting a transnational dimension that remains underexplored. Therefore, this study adopts a phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences of Chinese international students in accessing and utilizing healthcare services in South Korea, asking: How do Chinese international students experience healthcare access and utilization in South Korea, and how do they make sense of these experiences?

Methods

This qualitative study uses in-depth interviews with Chinese international students aged 18 and above who have studied in South Korea for at least two years (N = 20). Participants are recruited through Chinese student communities to include individuals with variation in gender, age, degree level, and place of residence within South Korea. Interviews explore participants’ understanding of the South Korean healthcare system, the influence of cultural and language factors on healthcare-seeking behaviors, and their interactions with healthcare providers. All interviews are transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively to identify themes, guided by phenomenological principles.

Findings

Preliminary findings reveal several interrelated themes shaping Chinese international students’ healthcare experiences in South Korea. Participants described persistent difficulties in navigating the healthcare system due to language barriers and limited understanding of medical procedures and insurance systems. Insufficient information and guidance from universities further contributed to uncertainty in accessing care. These experiences were often accompanied by feelings of anxiety and hesitation toward seeking formal healthcare services. In response, participants reported adopting transnational coping strategies, including reliance on familiar healthcare practices and resources from their home country. Participants also highlighted the importance of more accessible and culturally responsive healthcare information and support.

Conclusions and implications

Findings indicate that the diverse healthcare utilization experiences of Chinese international students in South Korea warrant further attention within existing healthcare policies and practices. Factors related to healthcare use, including language barriers, limited access to information, and transnational healthcare practices, suggest that the roles of policymakers, healthcare providers, and universities at multiple levels merit further examination. By presenting participants’ healthcare experiences, this study highlights the importance of qualitative research in capturing the perspectives of underrepresented groups and informing culturally responsive healthcare policy. The findings also illustrate the multiple barriers encountered in healthcare utilization and provide empirical insights for understanding healthcare use among international students in South Korea.