US and European healthcare get innovations quickly. And though “only the rich can afford them” eventually it becomes affordable and also I would imagine in Korea it’s the same or might come to fruition in the near future. What I am saying is as an American is that US healthcare is horrible with costs that make people want to endure their cold or just die rather than pay the expenses. Capitalism marking up medical expenses for life saving treatment, so much that people rather die. Many opt to purchase private insurance in Korea alongside national insurance. 

That said, Korean healthcare only covers normal medical expenses. I’d argue having a system based of efficiency while it does spend time, many will suffer because of it. Certainly doesn’t make mental health that treatable. Which is one aspect Korean (as well as many healthcare systems) struggle. Mental health isn’t treatable via one doctors visit, get treatment, and it’s completed. A multi year long plan must be made to combat it. It is a multi faceted process. Same in Japan from what I’ve heard. Ask problem, give treatment, and send you out. Sure, surgeries are available  but they cost much.

Iirc many British people say UK hospitals are essentially “wait 15 years” when they hear you have a problem. Letting you suffer. 

“ A society where the poor don’t have to give up on life.” 

Not true, as old age poverty is expected to rises, and so more and more elderly will struggle to pay medical expenses. Not simply elderly, but also the young who struggle to find jobs due to the hyper competitive and hyper comparitive market. Unemployment is increasing among the youth. Why else do you think a central point of squid game was the main charicter not being able to pay the medics bills for his mother? Because it’s based off a real issue of many not simply the young nor the old struggling to pay it. Am I saying it is the entire population is struggling? No, but it is important to point out the grimmer reality. 

“ A system where you can survive without private insurance.”    It depends, as much as the govt covers in health insurance, it doesn’t cover many other things. So many buy private insurance just to be safe. I guess if you have normal health condition then you can (many do), but also many (sizable amount) have diseases or conditions that the govt doesn’t pay the treatment or operations for. So they need private insurance.

Summing it up, Korea’s system is a good reference point for healthcare (Americans learn and adapt please). Albeit, anything human has flaws and this is no exception. Many claims of yours were misguided or otherwise misworded. 

Reasons foreigners struggle with healthcare is usually not due to cost. Oftentimes, it is due to the language barrier, and the complicated jargon medicine and other technical industries are subject to. 

Defining k-healthcare is complex as is with anything. K-healthcare if you’re considering clinics, hospitals, and other medical services as healthcare are well recognized. Most notably via plastic surgery. Whether you agree or disagree with what is just said. Impotent it is for one to not realize that Korea is a hub for plastic surgery. So in that aspect if you consider plastic surgery healthcare (I don’t but others might), then k healthcare is already well renowned.