South Korean medical professional self-regulation efforts

Medical professional organizations in South Korea are advocating for increased self-regulatory and disciplinary powers to address unethical practices and ensure patient safety.

In late September, the Seoul Medical Association proposed institutional reforms to restore public trust. Lim Hyun-sun, head of the association’s Expert Evaluation Team, called for the ability to conduct fair investigations into unethical practices, such as the illegal use of narcotics, fraudulent insurance claims, and ‘office-run hospitals’. Lim suggested amending the Medical Service Act to grant investigative powers and establishing an independent body to manage medical licenses.

By mid-October, the Korean Dental Association (KDA) also sought self-disciplinary authority, specifically to combat illegal advertising and “factory-style” dental treatments. This push follows patient fatalities during implant procedures at a clinic that utilized social media to attract high volumes of patients. In response to these calls for reform, the Ministry of Health and Welfare indicated it would review methods to expand the self-regulatory roles of professional medical groups.