Unification Medicine: North and South Korean Medical Cooperation and Integration (in Korean)

Seoul National University Unification Studies Series – 31

Authors: Shin Hee-young, Lee Hye-won, Ahn Kyungsoo, Ahn Hyung-soon, Lim Ah-young, Jeon Ji-eun, Choi So-young,

Book Introduction

How is health care different in North and South Korea?

In preparing for the unification of the Korean peninsula, the integration of health care and medical service infrastructure between the two Koreas is emerging as the most urgent and important issue. The 70-year history of division between the two Koreas has produced stark differences, not only in economic and social structure but also in the levels of public health between the two populations. In order to resolve these differences and promote the integration of North and South Korean society after unification, understanding the current state of health and medical care in North Korea and its differences with South Korea should be a priority. The book comprehensively describes the overall health and medical system of North Korea, including the delivery system of North Korea’s medical services, policy and administrative organization, the current status of manpower, and the system for healthcare training. In this book, analysis of up-to-date data such as international organization reports and surveys of North Korean defectors are used to examine the disease control infrastructure and major disease burden in North Korea. Furthermore, this book intends to present a policy vision for inter-Korean health and medical cooperation in preparation for unification by linking it with the strategy of providing aid to North Korea in the health and medical sectors. The book is useful for those interested in North Korea’s health problems, disease control infrastructure, health care system, and health and medical assistance to the North. In particular, it is expected that the government will be able to provide a lot of help to those who are working on projects to help North Korea or are considering their role as health and medical experts in preparation for the reunification of the two Koreas.

Published: 2017.03.20