On January 7, JTBC News reported that a 39-year-old homeless man Mr. Shin passed away after being denied emergency treatment from four different hospitals.

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The incident occurred on January 3 when Mr. Shin was first found collapsed in a building's public bathroom with a head wound. He was taken to a hospital by an ambulance, but was denied entry into the emergency room. According to news outlet Insight, a representative from that hospital explained, "It's difficult to treat homeless people because their scent spreads throughout the emergency room and patients [throw a fit]. We don't have the facilities to treat homeless people."

The ambulance then took Mr. Shin to three other hospitals. All three refused to take him, even though there was a hospital designated for unemployed and homeless people among them. Mr. Shin was finally hospitalized around 5 AM when the ambulance returned to one of the hospitals that initially rejected him. Mr. Shin passed away on the same day at 12 PM. Police are currently investigating to find out the cause of his death.

Netizens are appalled by the news, criticizing the hospitals for refusing to take in the homeless man. Top rated comments include: "Did that doctor not take the Hippocratic Oath? (A promise historically made by physicians to uphold specific ethical standards)," "If you can deny someone treatment because they smell, then I guess you can chase out [a criminal] from the police station because he reeks of alcohol, too. I beg of you, please don't waste your jobs," and, "You shouldn't discriminate against people."