OECD Reviews of Public Health: Korea
A Healthier Tomorrow
This review assesses Korea's public health system, highlights areas of strength and weakness, and makes a number of recommendations for improvement. The review examines Korea's public health system architecture, and how well policies are responding to population health challenges, including the growing burden of chronic disease, and resulting pressures on the health system. In particular, the review assesses Korea’s policies to prevent harmful alcohol use, and the risks and opportunities around public health genomics in Korea, which is both a growing field in the health sector, and a booming commercial industry. The review also examines Korea's exposure to public health emergencies, and capacity to respond to emergencies as and when they occur.
The public health system in Korea
In Korea, where compared to the OECD average the population is relatively young and rate of behavioural risk factors comparatively low, the system has perhaps been understandably focused curative, rather than preventive care. However, shifting demographics including rapid aging, key risk factors especially amongst certain population groups notably males, and an increasing burden of chronic disease mean that prevention and public health should be a focus sooner, rather than later. This chapter outlines some of Korea’s strengths when it comes to public health policy, notably a collaborative governing approach and rich data infrastructure, as well as areas for strengthening, including stronger primary prevention policies, and scope for more robust chronic disease management.
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