First and only in South Korea
Hahn Kim, Strategy Team Leader at Flying Doctors Korea, tells us about the company’s proactive approach and integrated services
In the realm of air ambulance services in South Korea, Flying Doctors Korea stands alone. The company is unique in its comprehensive approach, owning 100% of its air ambulance and employing its own pilots, mechanics, and medical staff. This self-sufficiency enables Flying Doctors Korea to deliver unparalleled service and reliability. Furthermore, as an original assistance company and a proud member of the International Assistance Group (IAG), Flying Doctors Korea excels in both inbound and outbound operational arrangements at the ends of evacuation services.
The operational efficacy of Flying Doctors Korea is underscored by its real-time communication capabilities. When a medical issue arises during a flight, an emergency medical team on board maintains direct contact with the ground-based medical team and 24/7 operations center, ensuring swift and effective responses. They are adept at managing critical situations through seamless collaboration. Southeast Asia, notably Indonesia, has seen an influx of both Korean and expatriate workers. This has led to a heightened demand for medical transport services. They conducted a mission for a US assistance company in June and a mission for a B2C Korean client in July. These missions involved transporting patients from Bali, Indonesia, to Minneapolis, US, and from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Incheon, South Korea, respectively.
A chain of integrated
services allowed a rapid
transfer to the hospital
and then the successful
completion of the mission
Especially in the latter case, the patient experienced shock mid-flight, resulting in unstable blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels, and thus, this led to a situation that could have resulted in cardiac arrest. The close collaboration between the medical crews, the medical director, and the 24/7 operations centre facilitated an immediate response to the patient’s condition. The company’s proactive approach ensured that the receiving hospital was located just 15 minutes from the airport. A chain of integrated services allowed a rapid transfer to the hospital and then the successful completion of the mission.
Based on these strengths, Flying Doctors Korea serves as an official Assistance Partner within the IAG community. Domestically, the company dominates over 90% of bids for international medical and security services, delivering critical care solutions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense. Furthermore, they provide exclusive membership services to leading corporations, including affiliates of Samsung, LG, and POSCO, ensuring top-tier medical assistance tailored to their needs.
Hahn Kim
Hahn Kim is the leader of the strategy team responsible for aviation, international business, and overseas corporate management.
Flying Doctors Korea
Flying Doctors Korea is the first and only service provider offering air ambulance, assistance, healthcare, and medical tourism services simultaneously.
September 2024
Issue
In our second Air Ambulance Review of the year we examine how air ambulance crew work around geopolitical challenges; look at Asia-Pacific air ambulance provision; consider how to choose partnerships around the world to ensure wing-to-wing transfers go off without a hitch; and examine how the industry can reduce CO2 emissions.
Editorial Team
The Editorial Team updates the ITIJ website daily, and works on features for the print edition. With expert industry knowledge and years of experience in writing about complex travel insurance issues, the Editorial Team is ready to investigate and report on the topics that matter most to ITIJ's readers.
