Special: ExPat Deaths and Systematic Cover Ups
Banchan (Small Bites), Podcast June 25th, 2008
Stephanie White returns with an update on her son, Michael White, who died mysteriously in a sauna in Daegu. She clarifies points she made in her first appearance and details the results of the government’s autopsy. The autopsy itself has raised enough questions to get the U.S. Embassy involved.
What looks like either a systematic cover up or a long series of incompetence and arrogance is disturbing to any foreigner and any parent of a foreigner living in Korea. A rise in unexplained deaths to foreigners and attacks on foreigners combined with indifference from the authorities should be the top issue to any foreigner living here, whether you’re an English teacher, businessman, professional or laborer.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
[...] [Special: ExPat Deaths and Systematic Cover Ups] [...]
June 25th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Joe and Jen,
Good on yas.
j.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:32 am
I forgot to tell folks during the interview… the hospital Mike was taken to…changed their name from TeakYoung Hospital to SaoMyung Hospital. This happened just within the last week. (romanization may not be perfect for new name, I’m unable to use Korean font for this comment)
July 1st, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Very informative, I’m so sorry this happened.
As a humorous aside, you can hear Jennifer’s cat throw up a hair ball at the 21 minute mark
July 15th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I just finished listening to both podcasts about Mike. It’s really sad and makes me frustrated and angry too. I was recently the victim of such a small crime that it embarasses me to mention it next to such serious things like this and Bill and the others. My motorcycle helmet was stolen and my gas stolen. Hell my bike wasn’t even stolen. I got my helmet back since the CCTV camera saw two guys drive in on a scooter and come out with the helmet and then go park on the next level down. The security guy just gave me the helmet back. I was trying to get him to call the police but he didn’t go for it. I had my co teacher call the building the next day to ask why the police were not called. Apparently that was my job. Fair enough, and had I spoken better Korean or been the victim of this back home in Canada I would have called the police right away and waited by the scooter until they arrived. As it is, the security guy just left them a note saying they had been spotted on the camera and he took the helmet himself. Later the scooter was gone and I haven’t seen it back in the building since. I ended up going to the police to make a report the next night with a Korean friend. They did seem helpful and polite, but said I should have come in the night before. Well, nothing I can do about it now. And compared to what happenened to Mike, it’s so insignificant. But it does make me think. If something more serious did happen to me or a friend, I don’t trust that Korean society will try to get to the bottom of it or bring justice. That makes me really sad and conflicted as I know alot of good Korean people.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:15 am
Trevor,
I understand what you mean about being conflicted. I too know a great number of good Korean people. And many of those folks have expressed sorrow over what has happened to Mike and the lack of answers or investigation… but the sad truth is, that most of what has happened with Mike’s case, would be the same had Mike been Korean.
Everyone seems more comfortable keeping ‘ugly’ things hidden and focusing on the ‘happy’ things in life. That is until it happens to them…
February 4th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
You should read American Fuji. It talks about how a man goes to Japan to find out how or why his son died…It covers how hard it is to get an answer.
May 9th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I really think that, given the number of foreigners who have died under questionable circumstances here in Korea, it would behoove us to develop a protocol for expats should they find themselves the subject of a medical emergency. I’m not familiar with the details of the other cases, but one of the central issues of the Micheal White case seems to be a significant difference in our expectations for standard of care, the way that patients are expected to act, and the financial details that should be considered. Accidents do happen, people get into trouble…because of the number of…let’s call them “special circumstances” that could arise in the course of emergency care. I think an advisory should be released, one that provides a framework for expats to set up their emergency medical care, where they want to be taken, pre-existing conditions, medication being taken, and any other information relevant to their medical care.
Even as a guy who very rarely goes out drinking or does anything that puts me at risk (a risk factor in and of itself, perhaps) I am certain that I should have the details of my medical spelled out for my wife. We do have a small hospital in our neighborhood, but after smelling pot smoke pour out of one of their ambulances RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOSPITAL and seeing two emergency care workers exit…after going there for a minor back problem, I have to say that is the LAST PLACE ON EARTH I WOULD WANT TO TRUST MY LIFE WITH.
Suffice to say, the quality of care is NOT equal at all clinics and hospitals, so it would be a good idea for people to make a decision where they want to be taken in the event of an emergency. Also, having emergency contacts both Korean and expat would be a good idea…even if it’s a co-worker or a supervisor. Everything I’ve heard about people who have had emergency situations indicates how important it would be to make sure they get the care they need or prefer.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Papertiger, you make some good points. It would also be wise to know that many EMTs in Korea do not have basic CPR, much less CPR for the professional rescuer or Emergency First Aid. As westerners, when we call 119, we expect a higher standard of care we could ourselves give in an emergency situation.
I’ve heard about and seen ambulances that get stuck in traffic, and it said the patient should have taken a taxi. But if someone CHOSE the ambulance mistakenly thinking the EMT’s would have emergency medical certifications… then there’s another serious problem added to the medical one they already have, incompetence & unwillingness to admit it.
May 24th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I so appreciate Ms. White sharing the details of the case surrounding her son’s death. I WILL NOT entrust my children OR my health to anyone in this country. End of story! This is SO sad. While I could add to the corruption and how they turn their heads to corruption. I cannot comment because I have no idea what and if their would be any repercussions. BINGO! I am listening to the podcast while typing this AND Ms. White just mentioned how the Korean police sometimes hire “corrupt individuals” is how i will describe them. So I am not the only person who knows. WOW! This story blows me away! This REALLY REALLY concerns me that we (not you Ms. White) but so many American’s in foreign places feel safe because we do not speak or read the language fluently. I left a message on facebook saying how we almost allowed our 15 yr old to travel alone on public transportation this past weekend. I just have to say thank you for bringing to light the dangers that our kids face here in Korea. IT IS TRUE ABOUT THE MIXING of organized crime and the “police” notice it is in quotation marks.
May 24th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
oops! I did not realize my full name would be posted…silly me!
May 24th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Don’t worry. I changed it.