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Anchor: Despite the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, reports of virus-related deaths continue to emerge worldwide. In regions facing rapid spread and overwhelmed healthcare systems, urgent solutions are needed.

Anchor: One organization is stepping up by taking to the skies to support Korean nationals, particularly missionaries stationed in under-resourced areas. CTS correspondent Lee Hyun-ji reports on the growing role of air ambulances.

Although vaccination efforts are underway, the rate of COVID-19 infections both in South Korea and abroad remains persistent. Alarming reports of overseas missionaries falling ill or dying from the virus highlight the vulnerability of Korean nationals residing in countries with inadequate healthcare systems. Amid these concerns, air ambulances have gained significant attention.

Symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, and nausea can escalate into life-threatening breathing difficulties. In such cases, equipment like ventilators and ECMO machines becomes critical. Yet, many countries lack even basic medical infrastructure, making services like air ambulance transport to Korea essential.

“In places like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, the demand for oxygen-generating devices is so high domestically that they are virtually unavailable for Korean residents or missionaries,” said Choi Young-ho, Executive Director at Flying Doctors Korea. “People are desperately calling hospitals, pleading with regional governments, trying anything to find facilities with ventilators. This is the grim reality.”

Flying Doctors Korea, which oversees a global air ambulance network, provides emergency medical evacuation services for Koreans abroad. The organization operates within a 200-country medical support network and has recently ramped up operations to transport critically ill COVID-19 patients to South Korea. Over the past year, it has facilitated the evacuation of approximately 30 COVID-19 patients—17 of them missionaries.

Experts caution, however, that pre-established emergency systems are vital in these regions. A lack of local medical knowledge and resources has, in some cases, delayed treatment to the point that patients were no longer fit to fly and tragically died before evacuation could occur.

“While medical evacuation is important, it’s equally crucial that those living abroad have emergency plans in place,” said Choi. “They need to know which local facilities can provide ventilation and who to contact in emergencies. Some patients simply follow hospital instructions without understanding their options, which can be dangerous.”

South Korea's insurance and healthcare systems currently pose limitations on the smooth utilization of air ambulances, representing a key challenge that needs to be addressed.

To reduce dependency on external networks and improve service delivery, Flying Doctors Korea is planning to acquire its own aircraft and directly operate an air ambulance fleet.

“We’re in the advanced stages of acquiring our own plane to independently run air ambulance operations,” said Baek Myung-sik, Director at Flying Doctors Korea. “Owning and operating the aircraft ourselves would allow us to offer more efficient, reliable service.”

Meanwhile, Flying Doctors is also organizing a special charter flight to evacuate Korean nationals with mild COVID-19 symptoms from India—where daily new infections have exceeded 300,000, earning it the grim nickname “pandemic hell.” A community-led demand survey is underway, and plans are being finalized for a charter flight from New Delhi to Incheon on May 21.