To request medical records in English from a Korean hospital, specify the documents and dates you need, then confirm the language available for each item. A record copy, a newly written medical certificate, and a copy of scan data involve different requests. Ask which identification and forms you need, what charges apply, and when and where you can collect the records.
List the records needed for your next appointment
Begin with what the receiving clinician or institution needs. Seoul National University Hospital’s document guide lists clinical notes, admission and discharge summaries, surgery records, laboratory results, radiology reports, and other records. It describes medical-image copies and certificates separately.
Use this checklist to specify the records you need:
| Item | Details to identify | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical notes or discharge summary | Department, consultation or admission dates, and the relevant record | Which pages can be copied and their language |
| Test results | Test name and date, such as a laboratory or pathology report | Whether the requested result is available and in which language |
| Imaging | Study type and date, such as a CT or MRI | The written report and the image data needed by the next clinician |
| A new medical certificate or doctor’s statement | The recipient’s requested information and purpose | Whether a clinician must prepare a new document and what appointment is needed |
Keep the requested period specific enough for the records team to identify it. If you are uncertain which test or visit a document concerns, ask the treating team to help identify it before ordering copies.
Check English availability document by document
Ask which records are available in English, even if the hospital offers English certificates. For example, the SNUH Healthcare System Gangnam Center’s records table lists Korean and English versions for a medical certificate, while its doctor’s-note entry lists a Korean version. These options are specific to the Gangnam Center; check with the facility that holds your records.
For each item, ask whether the hospital can issue it in English, supply an existing record in its original language, or provide a different document that meets your stated purpose. Confirm with the recipient whether the proposed document and language are acceptable before requesting a replacement.
SNUH’s main-hospital guide says an English medical certificate must be requested from the doctor during consultation. Samsung Medical Center’s documentation instructions also distinguish a first certificate, requiring an outpatient consultation in the relevant department, from copies of existing records. Raise that request while arranging the visit if a new clinician-written document is needed.
Request the image data as well as the written report
A written imaging report and the scan dataset are separate items to put on your list. SNUH’s guide describes radiology results among records and a separate request for images copied to CD. Tell the issuing team which study dates and body region the receiving clinician requested.
Samsung’s current instructions provide a concrete format example: its medical records are issued on paper, while copies of imaging studies are supplied on CD or DVD and collected in person after payment. The instructions also distinguish these studies from general medical photographs.
Check whether the receiving clinic can read the proposed image format and whether it also needs the written report. Ask the issuing hospital which delivery options it offers, including whether electronic delivery is available and how to use it. Do not assume records can be sent online.
Confirm the request and collection arrangements
SNUH’s guide instructs patients requesting their own records to bring photo identification and complete a request form at its International Healthcare Center. The Gangnam Center publishes its own identification and request steps. Follow the instructions for the facility that holds your records, including any charges and collection conditions.
Before collection, complete this note from the hospital’s reply:
Records: [document types, department, and dates]
Language: [confirmed language for each item; items awaiting clarification]
Images: [study dates, written report, and data medium]
Collection: [request form and ID, charges, ready date, and collection point]
Open items: [results still pending or documents needing a clinician’s appointment]
If someone else must collect the records, ask for the hospital’s current authorization requirements for that situation. Keep the documents private and use its official submission or collection route.
For an insurance claim, match the request to the insurer’s requirements using the insurance billing preparation guide. Payment receipts and itemized charges have their own role; the hospital bill guide explains those documents.
This guide helps organize record requests. The issuing hospital and receiving clinician or institution must confirm document availability, language, format, and acceptance.