Eight clinics that accept appointments exclusively through the mobile application, Ddocdoc, have received administrative guidance from government officials for possible violations of the Medical Service Act. Administrative guidance is non-binding advice.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said that if clinics do not make appointments outside of apps, there is a possibility of “refusing medical treatment.”

According to data submitted to Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Monday, 30 clinics nationwide have caused complaints among patients that they could not reserve medical treatment because of clinics’ unattended reception using only apps, Naver reservations, and tablet PCs from Nov. 1 to 10.

Among them, eight clinics that closed on-site reception two hours before the end of operation or accepted medical appointments only through paid apps, citing too many reserved patients through Ddocdoc, have been issued administrative guidance to prevent recurrence.

According to the ministry, 3,922, or 11.1 percent of the total 35,393 clinics, were using Ddocdoc as of the end of August. Pediatrics accounted for the largest share of 21.9 percent, with 859 clinics, followed by internal medicine at 743 (18.9 percent) and family medicine at 323 (8.2 percent).

However, controversy has been brewing since September, when Ddocdoc began charging a monthly fee of 1,000 won ($0.75), citing deteriorating profitability. Patient groups pointed out that it might infringe on the right to medical treatment for on-site users and digitally marginalized people.

The ministry has sent a letter to local governments to respond to complaints that it was difficult to receive medical treatment without using Ddocdoc, which recently switched to a paid service, asking them to "thoroughly supervise and ensure that people can receive medical treatment fairly through on-site and telephone reception."

In addition, the ministry said there was a possibility of “refusal of treatment” if clinics did not accept appointments other than through the app, even though telephone and in-person applications were available.

"Ddocdoc has accumulated medical information of some children and adolescents who use its service from infancy, violating the Medical Service Act and privacy protection rule," Rep. Han said. "The health and welfare ministry should actively devise policies that respond to technological changes, including operating a public platform for medical appointments."