Triage is the clinical process of prioritising patients based on urgency — ensuring those who are most critically ill receive immediate care, while stable patients wait appropriately.
Triage (from the French 'trier' — to sort) is the systematic process of assessing and categorising patients presenting to emergency services or departments according to the urgency of their need for care. Its purpose is to direct limited medical resources toward those with the highest acuity — ensuring no preventable death or deterioration occurs while stable patients wait for less urgent assessment.
Korea's emergency departments use the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) — a five-level triage tool, adapted from the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale and nationally implemented since 2016, assigning patients to categories from 'resuscitation' (immediate) to 'non-urgent' (can safely wait up to 120 minutes). The 119 emergency medical service pre-alerts hospitals from the field for the most critical patients, triggering immediate trauma team or resuscitation team activation.
Patients frequently misunderstand why sicker patients are seen before those who arrived first — triage is based on clinical acuity, not arrival time. A patient with severe chest pain will be seen immediately regardless of queue position. Patients with minor ailments may wait longer precisely because their condition is stable and safe to wait. Local clinics and urgent care centres handle less acute presentations, reducing the burden on hospital emergency departments for truly emergency cases.
Key Points
- Triage prioritises by urgency, not arrival order
- Korea's emergency departments use the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS)
- Level 1 (resuscitation): seen instantly
- For non-emergency urgent care: local clinics are the appropriate first stop
- Emergency number in Korea: 119
When to See a Doctor
- Chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe trauma, loss of consciousness — call 119
- For non-emergency conditions, a local clinic is more appropriate
For emergencies in Korea, call 119
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This content is published for educational purposes only. For accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment, consult a licensed KMA physician in Korea.
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Medical Disclaimer
This article is published by DoctorsInKorea.com for educational and informational purposes only. It does not replace a professional clinical evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider. For accurate medical diagnosis and personalised treatment paths, please book an appointment with a licensed KMA physician. For immediate life-threatening medical emergencies in Korea, please call 119.
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Last reviewed: March 1, 2025