This issue carries special significance in light of the 34th Technical Advisory Group on Immunization meeting of the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office. Recent resurgences of measles and polio in the region have prompted renewed discussions on response strategies, including supplementary immunization activities. The Republic of Korea, which was certified as polio-free in 2000 and has adopted the inactivated poliovirus vaccine, now requires sustained surveillance and close cooperation with neighboring countries to guard against both wild poliovirus and vaccine-derived poliovirus. Similarly, following a major measles outbreak in 2000–2001, the Republic of Korea declared measles elimination in 2006. To maintain this status, the Republic of Korea has strengthened its outbreak response, strengthened contact tracing and antibody monitoring, implemented 2-dose vaccination and recall/reminder systems, and eliminated out-of-pocket costs for essential vaccines to reinforce universal health coverage. This issue features a study using insurance data to evaluate cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a severe measles complication projected to result from the 2000–2001 epidemic. The findings underscore the global urgency of measles eradication [
1].
A new government was inaugurated on June 3. The new administration faces a healthcare crisis triggered by the previous government’s decision to expand medical school enrollment by 2,000. This decision led to mass resignations among residents and boycotts by medical students, disrupting hospital staffing and halting physician graduation. The crisis highlights deeper challenges in medical education and regional healthcare inequality.
The Republic of Korea now confronts three major health challenges: an aging population, increasing burdens of chronic disease, and the need for sustainable healthcare financing. Health policy must now be firmly grounded in science, long-term vision, and comprehensive institutional reform. Senior experts have proposed the following key policy directions [
2]:
The first recommendation is to introduce or increase taxes on health-harming behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and the intake of sugary beverages. These behaviors drive preventable chronic diseases and strain the healthcare system. The increased revenues should be reinvested in preventive care and biohealth research and development.
Second, the digital transformation in healthcare should be accelerated, including the integration of artificial intelligence. Despite the Republic of Korea’s reputation as a digital leader, its healthcare data infrastructure lacks full integration and interoperability. A centralized digital governance framework is necessary, alongside platforms such as My Healthway, legal reforms, and enhanced privacy protections.
Third, further innovation in biotechnology, particularly in cell therapy and xenotransplantation, is an important priority. The Republic of Korea’s strong academic foundation has not yet translated into comparable clinical or commercial progress. Addressing this gap may require faster regulatory pathways, the expansion of public–private partnerships, improved ethical oversight, and enhanced global collaboration.
Fourth, reforms to healthcare R&D governance are essential. At present, research functions remain fragmented across various ministries. Greater efficiency and strategic alignment could be achieved through the creation of a presidential-level coordinating body and a unified agency modeled after United States’ National Institutes of Health.
Fifth, the Korea National Institute of Health should be strengthened. This institution should serve as a strategic leader in national health research and emergency response, beginning with infectious diseases and expanding into chronic disease research and regional clinical research networks.
Sixth, academic medicine at university hospitals requires attention due to heavy clinical workloads, which have diminished research and teaching capacity. Policy measures that ensure protected research time for faculty, increased funding for investigator-led projects, and the development of a coordinated national strategy for academic medicine are necessary for revitalization.
Finally, national public health capacity should be enhanced by expanding the role of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency beyond infectious disease control, to include chronic disease surveillance, community health performance assessment, and advanced workforce development. The establishment of a public health statistics center and new advanced training programs would further support these efforts.
These comprehensive proposals are designed to address both immediate concerns and longer-term shifts in global health. Effective collaboration among government, academia, and healthcare stakeholders, along with investment in structural reforms, will likely prove pivotal as the Republic of Korea’s healthcare system faces this critical juncture. The recommendations presented here provide a roadmap toward a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable health future.
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Conflicts of Interest
Jong-Koo Lee has been the editor-in-chief of Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives since October 2021.
References
- 1. Lee YH, Byeon JH, Kang CR, et al. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis incidence following measles elimination efforts in the Republic of Korea. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2025;16:285−91.
- 2. Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS). Strategic policy recommendations for a healthy Korea. KAMS. Forthcoming 2025. Korean.
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