Medical bills rise 11 percent in 8 years

Korea’s medical expenses have increased at a fast pace, putting an ever growing strain on the balance sheets of the National Health Insurance Corp. (NHIC), the administrator of the nation’s compulsory health insurance program.

The medical bills climbed to 10.68 percent from 2003 to 2011.

The increase was driven primarily by population aging, which increased the elderly population. Yet the...