Choosing well
Surgery in Korea under anaesthesia: the CCTV request and other safety checks
Under Korea's Medical Service Act, clinics that operate on patients who are unconscious, for example under general anaesthesia, must have CCTV in the operating room, and must film the operation if the patient or guardian asks, unless a legal exception applies. Filming is one check among several. Before surgery, also confirm who operates, who manages anaesthesia and what happens if something goes wrong.
What readers ask
“How do I know the surgeon I met is the one who operates?”
“Can I ask for my surgery to be recorded in Korea?”
What does the Korean operating room CCTV rule say?
Article 38-2 of the Medical Service Act requires a clinic that performs surgery on patients who are unconscious, such as under general anaesthesia, to install CCTV inside the operating room. If the patient or guardian requests it, the clinic must film the operation. The clinic may refuse only for reasons listed in the law, such as an emergency operation where delay would endanger the patient, or a high-risk operation needed to save a life.
| Point | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Which operations | Surgery while the patient is unconscious, for example under general anaesthesia |
| Who can ask | The patient or the patient's guardian |
| Sound | Not recorded unless the patient and all staff involved agree |
| Who can view the footage | Only in limited cases, such as an investigation, a court, the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency after a case opens with consent, or with everyone's consent |
What else should you check before surgery?
- 01
The operating surgeon
Get the name of the surgeon in writing, and confirm it is the doctor you consulted.
- 02
Anaesthesia
Ask what type of anaesthesia or sedation is planned and who monitors you during it.
- 03
Your health history
Share medicines, supplements and past reactions to anaesthesia in writing, translated if needed.
- 04
Recovery and stay
Ask how long to stay in Seoul before flying and when stitches come out.
- 05
If something goes wrong
Ask who is your contact after you fly home, and keep your records.
Does filming mean the surgery is safe?
Not by itself. Filming is a record. It helps settle what happened if there is a dispute. Safety still depends on the surgeon, the anaesthesia plan, honest screening of your health, and time to recover before you fly.
Planning surgery? We ask clinics in writing who operates, how anaesthesia is handled and how they process a filming request.
Contact COMEDIGeneral information, not medical advice. Your doctor decides what suits you.
Quick answers
Can I ask for my surgery in Korea to be filmed?
Yes, for surgery while you are unconscious, such as under general anaesthesia. Under Article 38-2 of Korea's Medical Service Act, the clinic must film it at the patient's or guardian's request unless a listed exception, such as an emergency, applies.
Is sound recorded in Korean operating room CCTV?
No, not unless the patient and all the staff involved in the surgery agree.
Who can see the operating room footage in Korea?
Access is limited by law, for example to investigators or courts, to the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency after a case opens with consent, or with the consent of the patient and everyone involved.
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