How much does a day’s stay cost in the hospital VIP suite boasting top-notch facilities and security?
When one is unwell, there’s nothing quite like the combination of a doctor’s consultation, proper medication, and adequate rest. The importance of a conducive environment for rest cannot be overstated.
If the surroundings are noisy or the bed uncomfortable, rather than providing relief, the physical and mental discomfort tends to escalate.
Hence, in cases where hospitalization is necessary due to illness, opting for a single room is far more comfortable than a shared one. Despite the substantial cost of private rooms, many individuals endure shared spaces. However, for those who can afford it, the comfort of a private room becomes a priority.
Enter the VIP patients of hospitals who are willing to pay a premium for the best services in a comfortable environment. A closer look at hospitals’ VIP rooms reveals intriguing details.
Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital has the most expensive hospital VIP rooms. Featuring 31 VIP rooms spread across two wards, the charges range from a minimum of 600,000 won (approximately $450) to a maximum of 4.3 million won (about $3,300).
Occupying the top floor, the 21st floor of Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, these VIP rooms vary in size, with the largest covering approximately 175 square meters (1887 square feet), expandable to about 270 square meters (2873 square feet). This ample space comfortably accommodates patients, family members, and attendants, even providing separate family and reception rooms.
A notable aspect of St. Mary’s Hospital is its commitment to privacy, achieved by meticulously separating the routes of medical staff and family members of VIPs to prevent encounters with outsiders.
The abundant facilities of the VIP ward, often depicted in Korean dramas, are so impressive that even affluent individuals from the Middle East prefer Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital for their medical needs.
The special ward of Seoul National University Hospital is located on the 12th floor of the main building.
The room charges range from a minimum of 640,000 won (about $490) to 1.6 million won (about $1,200), slightly lower than St. Mary’s Hospital.
The VIP rooms in the special ward are about 37 to 74 square meters (396 to 792 square feet), and it also has separate rooms for family members and attendants, a kitchen where cooking is possible, a living room, and two bathrooms.
It has been revealed that the patient beds in this VIP suite are priced at 10 million won ($7,600) each.
Lee Jae Hyun, the Chairman of CJ Group, is known to have been admitted to this VIP suite for 14 days after being detained in 2014.
There are only four VIP rooms in the special ward of Seoul National University Hospital, and there are rumors that even conglomerate owners have often had to turn away without being admitted.
The VIP rooms of Severance Hospital, located on the 20th floor, boast a fantastic view of Namsan and the Han River.
The 18 VIP rooms, about 153 square meters (1651 square feet), are equipped with patient bedrooms, guest bedrooms, living rooms, and conference rooms.
The daily room charge ranges from 920,000 won ($700) to 2.7 million won ($2,000).
Severance’s VIP rooms are famous for having housed former presidents like Kim Dae Jung, Chun Doo-hwan, and Roh Tae-woo, and perhaps because of this, the facilities are more luxurious than other hospital VIP rooms.
The bedroom for next of kin has a bed with a massage function and a 50-inch PDP TV, the bathroom has a whirlpool bathtub, and it is equipped with various electronic and office equipment and a small kitchen. In addition, dedicated doctors and nurses are on standby 24 hours a day, and medical equipment such as oxygen tanks and masks are hidden behind large oil paintings to minimize the oppressive atmosphere of the hospital.
In contrast, Samsung Seoul Hospital boasts the most VIP rooms among domestic medical facilities.
Renowned for admitting Chairman Lee Kun Hee of Samsung Electronics, Samsung Hospital offers 61 VIP rooms, with daily charges ranging from a minimum of 570,000 won ($440) to a maximum of 1.8 million won ($1,400).
These VIP accommodations are primarily situated on the 19th and 20th floors, with the 20th-floor rooms enjoying greater popularity due to enhanced security measures and superior facilities, attracting notable personalities such as Chairman Lee Kun Hee.
What sets Samsung Seoul Hospital’s VIP rooms apart is their meticulous protection of patients’ privacy. Security personnel are deployed to prevent contact with outsiders, and the rooms have direct connections to the intensive care unit and underground parking lot.
Unlike the typical clinical setting of hospital rooms, these VIP quarters exude a hotel-like atmosphere, featuring soft lighting and stylish interior decor.
Having explored the VIP offerings of prominent domestic hospitals, the admission costs, ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per day, might seem daunting. The prospect of falling ill becomes even more formidable.
Yet, as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” It raises the question of whether the elevated cost of admission translates to a distinct quality of treatment.
While VIP rooms may boast luxurious facilities, with a few exceptions, the medical services provided are generally not significantly different from those in standard rooms. Some religious foundation hospitals have faced criticism for the perceived extravagance of their VIP accommodations.
In response, they defend opulence by highlighting the virtuous cycle of VIP rooms, asserting, “We offer top-notch service to clients with financial flexibility and utilize the profits for charitable medical services.”
By. Choi Yi Jae
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