Unmet Medical Needs Among Immigrants in Korea Before and During COVID-19

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate how the disparities in unmet medical needs between immigrants to South Korea and native-born populations evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Using nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 2018 and 2020 Surveys on Immigrants’ Living Conditions and Labor Force in South Korea, we compared unmet medical needs among immigrants at two time points (N = 12,227 in 2018; N = 18,530 in 2020). Standardized prevalence ratios (SPRs) were calculated. Analyses were stratified according to work status, gender, Korean language proficiency, education level, and duration of stay. Results: Working immigrants had lower SPRs for unmet medical needs than Korean nationals (2018: 0.879; 2020: 0.745) but non-workers had consistently higher SPRs (2018: 1.117; 2020: 1.128). The SPRs for male and female non-workers increased and decreased, respectively. The SPRs were persistently higher among individuals with poorer Korean language proficiency, lower education, and shorter duration of stay. Conclusions: Systemic disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may exacerbate pre-existing healthcare inequalities among immigrant populations. The persistence and widening of these disparities call for targeted policies that address structural barriers and ensure equitable healthcare access during future public health crises.