Table 3 Themes, subthemes, and sample quotes from the content analysis

Difficulty understanding and using medical services in Korea

Limited Korean proficiency

When I go to a clinic, the doctors often use the word “inflammation.” However, I do not understand what “inflammatory” means or what is wrong with me. I have only picked up a few words. I just say, “yes, yes, okay, I get it” [Participant K, 12]

[Communication with] the doctor is very difficult. Some people do not visit clinics because they cannot explain [their problems] to the doctor [Participant J, 1]

Lack of knowledge of the Korean health-care system

It is difficult to decide which doctor to see or which hospital to go to. When I go to a hospital, I [usually] have to go again the next week, and then the following week or month. I have to make several reservations, because I do not know which clinic is suitable for me or if I should go to a general hospital [Participant H, 13]

Going to the hospital is the most complicated task in Korea. In my country, if I am sick, I just go to a general physician and get treated there, and if they cannot treat me there, they send me to another hospital. However, in Korea, I have to find out which [institution] to visit; thus, it is hard to understand it at first [Participant M, 10]

Insufficient time to visit a hospital

When work ends, at nine, the dentist is closed. That is why we must go to the dentist during work hours [Participant L, 4]

We only have Sundays off; however, the hospitals are closed on Sundays. Therefore, even if we are sick, we cannot go to the hospital unless it is really bad. That is why many people do not go to the hospital [Participant M,1]

Worries regarding fees

Even if I do not need treatment, there is still a registration fee and bill. It is expensive for me [Participant G, 21]

I was afraid that I would have to pay approximately 800,000–900,000 won for surgery. Everything is free in my home country, because of which I go back to my country to receive surgery [Participant L, 3]

Obtaining necessary health and safety information

Limited health information available in one’s native language

It is easier for us if they use English. I do not expect them to use Nepali, just English. I wish these things [information on COVID-19 symptoms] were presented in English [Participant B,18]

When I go to hospital, I have an interpreter’s phone number; thus, we call and ask there. However, some hospitals say that they do not have one. I wish all of them had it [Participant G, 23]

When I go to hospital, I bring an interpreter’s phone number with me; thus, I can call the interpreter and ask for help. Some hospitals have interpreters service over the phone, while others do not; I believe that all hospitals should have interpreters available [Participant I, 20].”

Relying on co-workers who speak Korean

I am [usually] not very sure that I understand the [health-care professionals’ instructions]. I always check the information on the Internet and ask Korean people. I think that is the most important thing [Participant C, 13]

When I had my first appointment with a doctor, I asked seniors [i.e., migrant workers who have been living in Korea for a long time] or Korean coworkers to accompany me; since then, most of the time my employer or his wife has accompanied me [Participant Q, 1]

Seeking opportunities or resources for learning Korean

While speaking to a Korean person in my company when I was sick, I recognized my need to learn Korean to say the things I want to say [Participant C, 7]

I use Korean portal a lot. There is a lot of information there. I want to speak Korean fluently; therefore, I try reading a lot of Korean [Participant D, 10]

Using technology to overcome limited language skills

There is a text-translation application. It translates [text] that I copy and paste [into it] [Participant F, 8]

If we do not understand something [at the clinic], the doctors look up the terminology on the internet using a cellphone, and we look it up on the internet as well. If we do not know what something means, we translate our question and show it to the doctor [Participant J, 16]

Impact of COVID-19

Changes to daily life

Work time has been reduced. In the past, it used to be 40 h a week; when [COVID-19] arrived, all factories ceased operation, because of which I could not work and there was no overtime. It was hard. Now, I do not work on weekends, and I do not work on my days off either [Participant B, 14]

Before the pandemic, I could go outside to visit the foreign support center; however, I cannot go there now because of the risk of infection [Participant I, 8]

Witnessing discrimination

The Korean government takes care of Koreans; however, I am just a foreigner. My country is poor, because of which we feel like we are not being taken care of by our own government, either [Participant B, 9]

People have different views of foreigners, and at the time [of COVID-19’s early spread], I felt bad [because I experienced discrimination]. However, now I know that they could have had those feelings because of a fear of [COVID-19] [Participant C, 15]

I had to get a COVID test, although the test center was far from here. I did not know how to go there. They did not provide me or my friends with transportation information. [Participant G, 7]

Psychological distress

I can go back to my country; however, the airport is the most dangerous place because there are people there from all around the world. I thought that it would be worse if I caught the virus on the way because I would take it home to my family. I felt scared [Participant C, 1]

I could not meet my friends because of [COVID-19], because of which I just worked alone, bought only essentials, and stayed at home. It was a hard time. I felt isolated [Participant P, 13]

Self-reflection

Less work. I think that changed my life the most. After arriving here [in Korea], I tried to work out and work harder on weekends. I stay in the dormitory every weekend, although I wonder whether I can continue this work. When [COVID-19] first arrived and also now, [I think about] what I have done and [make plans] to protect myself [Participant B, 8]

There is nothing we can do. Thus, I just [try to accept the situation and] think, “oh, this will not last long” [Participant J, 12]

Protecting oneself from becoming infected with COVID-19

Adhering to

preventive behaviors

I am checking my body temperature and performing self-diagnosis daily [Participant N, 8]

I travel to and from work alone, spray disinfectant on my body, keep my clothes separate [from other people’s clothes], and so on. And I always keep my mask on [Participant P, 8]

Belief in overcoming the virus

I think that the [Korean] government has presented a strong prevent-and-control message to the people [that has helped] to reduce transmissions. The most important thing is that we overcome [COVID-19] [Participant F, 13]

I believe I am safe here [in Korea] because we comply with the government’s quarantine guidelines. Thus, you have to believe that this is not going to last long [Participant J, 5]

Tracking positive cases

There is an app for tracking the movement of confirmed COVID-19 patients. There is also an English-language Google Maps resource. We look at that. People translate it into our language and upload the information [onto SNS]. It is on Facebook [Participant A, 17]

[We receive] patient-tracing [information] by text. Even if we are not good at speaking [Korean], we can all read the places [the patient] visited [Participant C, 3]

Learning about the disease

I have been gathering a lot of [COVID-19 information] from Facebook. All of my friends do that, too [Participant D, 9]

Since [COVID-19] is severe, they say, “do this” [hand sanitizing], “do that” [body temperature measurement]. However, there are also “do not do” things, such as [eating together]. I do not know much about [COVID-19] [Participant K, 7]