Gangseo-gu Conducts Surprise Inspection of 20 Private Ambulances, Strengthening Emergency Medical Safety Net at EMS Sol and Seoul 911 Transport Center on July 15-16

Seoul’s Gangseo-gu (District Mayor Jin Gyo-hoon) carried out unannounced inspections of private ambulances operating within the district to safeguard residents’ emergency medical safety net. Over two days, July 15 and 16, the district visited two emergency patient transport companies — EMS Sol Co., Ltd. and Seoul 911 Transport Center Inc. — and inspected a total of 20 ambulances, 10 from each company, on site. The move was aimed at verifying whether the private ambulances that residents rely on in emergencies actually comply with relevant laws and medical service standards, and the fact that it was carried out without prior notice is seen as key to making the inspection genuinely effective.

[코리안투데이] Exterior of an ambulance © 송정숙 기자

The inspection comprehensively examined the exterior condition of both specialized and general ambulances, whether essential medical equipment and supplies were properly stocked, compliance with the requirement to have a paramedic or nurse on board, and whether dispatch and treatment records were properly written and kept. Since these items are considered directly tied to patients’ lives during emergency transport, the district went beyond checking paperwork and personally examined the interior of the vehicles and the condition of the equipment.

The inspection found that both companies were generally in good compliance with overall emergency medical standards, including having essential equipment on hand. However, some ambulances were found to have administrative shortcomings that need improvement, such as incomplete entries in operation logs, delayed input into computer systems, and medical supplies past their expiration date that had not been replaced. The district requested immediate correction of the deficiencies identified on site and concluded its administrative guidance by asking that dispatch and treatment records be managed thoroughly and in real time going forward. The vehicles and companies cited will first be given a grace period to make voluntary improvements.

Gangseo-gu does not plan to stop at this single inspection, and intends to conduct ongoing follow-up checks to confirm that actual improvements are made. If improvements prove inadequate or additional serious legal violations come to light, the district plans to respond strictly in accordance with relevant laws, including administrative penalties or referral for prosecution. District Mayor Jin Gyo-hoon said, “Since emergency patient transport services are directly tied to residents’ lives, not the slightest lapse can be tolerated,” adding, “We will continue to carry out surprise inspections to establish order in emergency medical services and do our utmost to ensure emergency patients can receive safe transport services anytime, anywhere.”

Private ambulances form one pillar of the emergency patient transport system alongside the 119 fire and rescue service, but there have been persistent concerns that they fall into a relative blind spot when it comes to oversight and supervision. Against this backdrop, the inspection is seen as meaningful for directly examining how these companies operate under normal conditions. While it is reassuring that the issues identified amounted to administrative shortcomings such as record-keeping rather than serious safety problems, officials note that accuracy of records still plays an important role in determining responsibility and preventing recurrence in the event of an accident, so the matter should not be taken lightly. Gangseo-gu plans to use this inspection as an opportunity to build greater trust in the operation of private ambulances within the district. Inquiries can be directed to the Gangseo-gu Public Health Center’s Pharmaceutical Affairs Division at 02-2600-0090.

[코리안투데이] Interior of an ambulance © 송정숙 기자

송정숙 기자  | gangseo@thekoreantoday.com

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