Learn Korean: The Mysterious 'Infusion Auntie' and Her Unlawful Medical Treatments

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Korean Reading Practice

The Mysterious 'Infusion Auntie' and Her Unlawful Medical Treatments

Date: December 15, 2025

Introduction

This lesson explores a contemporary Korean social issue involving an unlicensed person providing medical treatments in residential neighborhoods. The story highlights concerns about healthcare safety and the importance of proper medical credentials in Korea. Understanding this topic will help you learn intermediate Korean vocabulary related to healthcare, law, and community issues. ---

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
의료 행위 uiryo haengwi medical practice/service 의료 행위를 하려면 자격증이 필요해요.You need credentials to practice medicine.
불법 bulbeop illegal; unlawful 그녀는 불법적으로 주사를 놓았어요.She administered injections illegally.
의심 uisim suspicion; doubt 경찰은 그녀에 대한 의심을 조사하고 있어요.Police are investigating suspicions about her.
자격증 jagyeokjeung license; credential 의사 자격증이 없으면 진료할 수 없어요.Without a doctor's license, you cannot treat patients.
주사 jusa injection; shot 간호사가 주사를 놓아줬어요.The nurse gave me an injection.
동네 dongne neighborhood; community 동네 주민들이 모두 그 여자를 알고 있었어요.All the neighborhood residents knew about that woman.
시술 sisul medical procedure; treatment 위험한 시술을 받지 않도록 조심해야 해요.You should be careful not to undergo dangerous procedures.
반발 banbal backlash; opposition 이 사건으로 인한 반발이 매우 컸어요.The backlash from this incident was very large.
나이가 들다 naiga deulda to grow old; to age 나이가 들면서 건강 관리가 더 중요해졌어요.As I've grown older, health management has become more important.
적발되다 jeokbaldoeda to be caught; to be discovered 불법 행위가 적발되어 경찰에 신고되었어요.The illegal activity was discovered and reported to police.
신뢰 sinroe trust; confidence 의료 전문가가 아니면 신뢰할 수 없어요.If they're not a medical professional, you can't trust them.
약국 yakguk pharmacy; drugstore 약국에서 약을 사야 해요.I need to buy medicine at the pharmacy.

Reading Text

최근 서울의 한 동네에서 의료 자격증이 없는 여성이 주민들에게 불법적으로 주사를 놓아준 사건이 드러났습니다.

Recently, an incident came to light in which a woman without medical credentials illegally administered injections to residents in a Seoul neighborhood.

그녀는 의사도 아니고 간호사도 아니었지만, 마치 의료 전문가인 것처럼 행동하며 동네 주민들을 찾아다니며 시술을 해주었다고 합니다.

She was neither a doctor nor a nurse, but she acted as if she were a medical professional and went around the neighborhood providing treatments to residents.

많은 주민들이 그녀를 믿고 비용을 지불했는데, 나중에 그녀가 자격증이 없다는 사실을 알게 되었을 때 큰 충격을 받았습니다.

Many residents trusted her and paid for her services, but they were shocked when they later discovered that she had no credentials.

경찰 조사에 따르면, 그녀는 약국에서 약을 받아와 주민들에게 팔기도 했고, 때로는 위험한 주사를 놓기도 했다고 합니다.

According to police investigation, she obtained medicine from pharmacies and sold it to residents, and sometimes administered risky injections.

이 사건으로 인해 지역 사회에서는 큰 반발이 일어났고, 사람들은 의료 서비스를 제공하는 사람의 자격을 더욱 엄격하게 확인해야 한다는 점을 깨달았습니다.

This incident caused significant backlash in the community, and people realized that they should more strictly verify the credentials of those providing medical services.

전문가들은 이런 일이 다시 일어나지 않도록 주민들이 항상 의료 전문가의 자격증을 확인하고, 믿을 수 있는 의료 기관을 방문해야 한다고 강조하고 있습니다.

Experts are emphasizing that to prevent such incidents from happening again, residents should always verify medical professionals' credentials and visit trustworthy medical institutions.

Grammar Points

처럼 like / similar to

'처럼' attaches to a noun (or noun phrase) to mean 'like' or 'as if'. Here '것처럼' means 'as if (she) were a medical professional'.

📖 그녀는 의사도 아니고 간호사도 아니었지만, 마치 의료 전문가인 것처럼 행동하며 동네 주민들을 찾아다니며 시술을 해주었다고 합니다. She was neither a doctor nor a nurse, but she reportedly acted as if she were a medical professional and went around the neighborhood performing procedures.

✏️ 그는 마치 전문가인 것처럼 자신 있게 말했어요. He spoke confidently as if he were an expert.

-(으)로 인해(서) due to

'-(으)로 인해(서)' attaches to a noun to mean 'due to' or 'because of', indicating a cause or reason. It is commonly used in formal or written contexts.

📖 이 사건으로 인해 지역 사회에서는 큰 반발이 일어났고, 사람들은 의료 서비스를 제공하는 사람의 자격을 더욱 엄격하게 확인해야 한다는 점을 깨달았습니다. Due to this incident, a strong backlash arose in the local community, and people realized that they must more strictly verify the qualifications of those who provide medical services.

✏️ 폭설로 인해 많은 항공편이 취소되었습니다. Many flights were cancelled due to heavy snowfall.

Cultural Notes

In Korea, there is a strong cultural emphasis on respecting expertise and credentials, particularly in healthcare. However, this story reflects a broader social issue where some people, especially in older or more isolated communities, may turn to unlicensed practitioners out of convenience, cost concerns, or traditional trust in neighborhood figures. Korean healthcare is highly regulated, and medical licenses (의사 자격증) are strictly controlled by the government. Koreans are increasingly aware of the importance of verifying credentials, but this incident serves as a reminder that consumer vigilance remains necessary in protecting public health and safety.

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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

What were the woman's actual professional qualifications, and what did she claim to be?

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Q2

How did the woman obtain some of the medicines and treatments she provided to residents?

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Q3

What was the main consequence or reaction from the community after this incident was discovered?

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Q4

According to the text, what should residents do to prevent similar situations in the future?

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Q5

Why did the residents initially trust this woman enough to pay for her services?

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