A dire pediatric health crisis is unfolding in South Korea, and families like Kim Kyu-jong’s are feeling the brunt of it. When Kim’s toddler developed a fever, the lack of available emergency rooms forced him to take a taxi to a pediatric emergency room. His child was admitted for outpatient care only.

“I felt resentful and helpless when sent back home with a still-suffering kid,” Kim told Korea Pro. “Luckily, she improved the next day, but I keep wondering — what if it happens again?”

This harrowing experience is not isolated. Across South Korea, a growing number of incidents