Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) is formally integrated into the Korean national health system and monitored through the systematic and computerized system, which could grasp the whole medical services utilization in Korea. This study analyzed TKM resources as input and utilization as output using data from 2008–2017 and compared them to Conventional Medicine (CM). As a result, 25.4% of Koreans utilized TKM yearly, and the proportion of TKM medical expenditure (ME) to total ME in national health insurance was around 4% between 2008 to 2017. The proportion of ME has been stagnating or decreasing over the past ten years. Primary users are the elderly, women, and patients with musculoskeletal diseases. The Korean Ministry of health and welfare has also developed and operated programs that have taken advantage of the strengths of TKM. This study analyzes the current status of TKM in Korea comparing with that of CM. It also explores how and why the patterns of TKM and CM are different. Although the study focuses on input and output indicators, it also highlights the challenge of evaluating whether these lead to outcomes. Lastly, it seeks to inform relevant authorities of the importance of monitoring roles and evidence-informed policymaking.

Background: COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and it has since spread worldwide. The Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM) established the COVID-19 telemedicine center of Korean medicine (KM telemedicine center) in Daegu and Seoul. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the results of the KM telemedicine center and the clinical possibility of using herbal medicines for COVID-19. Methods: All procedures were conducted by voice call following standardized guidelines. The students in the reception group obtained informed consent from participants and they collected basic information. Subsequently, Korean Medicine doctors assessed COVID-19–related symptoms and prescribed the appropriate herbal medicine according to the KM telemedicine guidelines. The data of patients who completed the program by June 30, 2020, were analyzed. Results: From March 9 to June 30, 2020, 2324 patients participated in and completed the KM telemedicine program. Kyung-Ok-Ko (n=2285) was the most prescribed herbal medicine, and Qingfei Paidu decoction (I and II, n=2053) was the second most prescribed. All COVID-19–related symptoms (headache, chills, sputum, dry cough, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, dyspnea, chest tightness, diarrhea, and loss of appetite) improved after treatment (P<.001). Conclusions: The KM telemedicine center has provided medical service to 10.8% of all patients with COVID-19 in South Korea (as of June 30, 2020), and it is still in operation. We hope that this study will help to establish a better health care system to overcome COVID-19.

Objectives: This study investigated public opinion on the use of modern diagnostic medical devices by Korean Medicine doctors.Methods: A questionnaire looking into perceptions on the use of modern medical devices was developed. It was distributed by a third party and data was collected. Results were analyzed through frequency analysis, chi-square analysis (χ²-test), frequency and cross analysis using R program. The measurement variable in the study was the respondent’s perspectives and expectations on the use of modern diagnostic medical devices by Korean Medicine doctors. The maximum significance level was 0.05.Results: There were a total of 3,000 responses and 80.8% of the respondents replied that there is a need for government-level discussion on endowing rights to Korean Medicine doctors as supervisors for safety management of radiation generating devices. Also, 83.3% of the respondents agreed the use of ultrasound imaging equipment in Korean Medicine clinics should be legalized.Conclusions: According to this study, respondents strongly support the use of modern diagnostic medical devices by Korean Medicine doctors. This is the first study to investigate public opinion in this area and it provides a significant insight into the public needs and desires for a wider scope of practice for Korean Medicine in the healthcare system.

Objectives: South Korea, the United States, and the United Nations have imposed extensive economic sanctions against North Korea, which increased the use of traditional Korean medicine in North Korea to maintain its national health care system. This study attempts to study the latest trends of traditional Korean medicine research through bibliographic analysis of one of the North Korean medical journals. It will then provide insights into how traditional Korean medicine is used in North Korea.Methods: This study is based on 611 clinical research articles out of 931 articles extracted from 13 volumes of Koryo Medicine (2016 ~ 2019). The articles were classified according to the researched treatment, diseases and use alongside conventional drugs.Results: Based on the analysis of Koryo Medicine, the proportion of clinical research articles investigating the treatment effects was very high (65.6%). Also, clinical research using herbal medicine as treatment was the most common, accounting for 17.69% of the total. Some of the clinical research in Koryo Medicine were conducted in tandem with conventional drug treatment, especially on acupuncture.Conclusion: This study conducted a bibliographic analysis of Koryo Medicine to understand the current status of traditional Korean medicine within North Korea. The analysis identified main diseases, treatment methods, and integration with conventional drugs in the clinical research of traditional Korean medicine. As a country actively seeking to use traditional Korean medicine, North Korea will become an interesting field of global traditional medicine and complementary medicine research.

BACKGROUND COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and it has since spread worldwide. The Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM) established the COVID-19 telemedicine center of Korean medicine (KM telemedicine center) in Daegu and Seoul. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the results of the KM telemedicine center and the clinical possibility of using herbal medicines for COVID-19. METHODS All procedures were conducted by voice call following standardized guidelines. The students in the reception group obtained informed consent from participants and they collected basic information. Subsequently, Korean Medicine doctors assessed COVID-19–related symptoms and prescribed the appropriate herbal medicine according to the KM telemedicine guidelines. The data of patients who completed the program by June 30, 2020, were analyzed. RESULTS From March 9 to June 30, 2020, 2324 patients participated in and completed the KM telemedicine program. Kyung-Ok-Ko (n=2285) was the most prescribed herbal medicine, and Qingfei Paidu decoction (I and II, n=2053) was the second most prescribed. All COVID-19–related symptoms (headache, chills, sputum, dry cough, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, dyspnea, chest tightness, diarrhea, and loss of appetite) improved after treatment (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS The KM telemedicine center has provided medical service to 10.8% of all patients with COVID-19 in South Korea (as of June 30, 2020), and it is still in operation. We hope that this study will help to establish a better health care system to overcome COVID-19.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to draw priorities for candidate projects so that future inter-Korean traditional medicine cooperation can be promoted efficiently and effectively.Methods: This study used the Delphi-AHP method to derive priorities for the inter-Korean traditional medicine cooperation project. First, 33 candidate projects were selected through a data survey. In addition, the priority importance score was calculated through a 2-round mini-Delphi survey of 20 experts. The importance of 33 candidate projects was calculated by three evaluation criteria, and the weights for these three evaluation criteria were derived through the AHP method.Results: As for the weight by item, 'feasibility' was the highest with 0.6749 points, followed by 'social ripple effect' (0.1811) and 'instrumentality' (0.1439). As a result of calculating the importance score by reflecting the weight of the evaluation criteria for each project, the South's sole project, "Understanding the Status of North Korea's Korean Medicine," was the top priority, followed by the "Establishment of Strategy for Inter-Korean Traditional Medicine and Cooperation.”Conclusions: As a result of this study, experts now believe that it is important to prioritize the highly feasible South Korean independent project in the field of traditional medicine between the two Koreas. This will serve as the basis for promoting cooperative projects in the event of future changes in the inter-Korean situation.