The empirical review of National Health Insurance in Korea

The medical insurance system in Korea was established in 1963, with the passage of the Medical Insurance Act. However, the socio-economic base in Korea at the time was not mature enough for the implementation of a compulsory medical insurance system. Therefore, the country had a voluntary medical insurance system for more than ten years before the adoption of a compulsory system. By the time the compulsory medical insurance system was introduced, the GDP per capita was only about 1,000 USD. However, because of a strong national political will, the South Korean national government implemented compulsory medical insurance and realized Universal Health Coverage (UHC) within only 12 years. Today, the medical insurance system in Korea has been recognized as an exemplary model in the international community with regard to medical service accessibility and cost-effectiveness. (The rest omitted)

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