Gov't proposal to scrap requirement separating hospital inpatient rooms by sex draws heavy backlash

Men and women in the same hospital room? Many Koreans say no

South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare withdrew a proposal to end mandatory sex-segregated hospital wards — introduced in 2012 — after 4,000+ public comments citing privacy and safety risks. The revised rule retains segregation with narrow exceptions for ICUs and spousal/family two-person rooms, signalling that Korean regulatory reform on sensitive social norms faces strong citizen pushback even when driven by practical caregiving needs.