Future perspective on international affairs for Korean doctors

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has been requested to respond proactively and effectively to local agendas reflecting global perspectives in order to lead our society through the dynamic and fast-changing health care environment, which faces issues such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the increasing health-related impacts of climate change and fine particulate matter. Since the KMA joined the World Medical Association (WMA) in 1949 and the Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO) in 1956, the KMA has made continuous progress in international affairs. Based on these achievements, the KMA has recently played important roles, such as the chair of the WMA Finance and Planning Committee, a council member in the WMA, and a council chair in the CMAAO. For the next several decades, the WMA and CMAAO are still expected to be the basic channels for sharing trends and visions, discussing health challenges across borders, and developing powerful initiatives that improve people's health. Maintaining current partnerships with the WMA and CMAAO and strengthening strategic collaboration with promising national medical associations are required to extend the KMA's influence. Training next-generation representatives to build capacity for international relations might also be necessary for the sustainability of international collaboration. Through the KMA's advancements in international affairs, incorporating harmonious perspectives on local, regional, and global agendas, the KMA is fully expected to contribute to addressing health challenges by demonstrating its leadership.

Yun Il-sun's Studies in Japan and Medical Research during the Colonial Period / 의사학

In this article, I looked at the life of Yun Il-sun, a representative medical scientist of modern Korea, and examined the following problems. First, I took note of the position of the Korean people in the academic system of the Japanese colonial empire and restored the life of Yun Il-sun as specifically as possible. Yun was educated among Japanese people from elementary school to university. Although he received the best education at Old System High School and Imperial University and grew to be a prominent medical scientist, he could not overcome his identity as a colonized. Yun Il-sun, who moved from Keijo Imperial University to Severance Union Medical College, involved in activities founding of the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Medical Journal. Second, I the meaning of ‘culture’ to the intellectuals in the periphery. Old System High School and Imperial University where Yun Il-sun was educated were the hotbed of ‘culturalism.’ Yun's college days were the heyday of Taisho Democracy, and students were attracted to Marxism, Christian poverty movement, Buddhist cultivation movement and so on. Yun sought to overcome the ideological of young people through the acquisition of ‘culture.’ The ‘culture’ emphasized by Yun had an enlightenment characteristic that emphasized education, but it also functioned as a‘identity culture of educated elites.’ Third, I used the concept of ‘colonial academism’ and examined the aspects and characteristics of the colonial-periphery academic field, focusing on medicine. Yun Il-sun was a Korean professor at the Keijo Imperial University. He founded an academic society and published an academic journal for Koreans. He attempted to reproduce scholarship by doctoral dissertations. At the same time, several facts show that he was also in the affected area of ‘colonial academism’: the fact that he was kicked out of the Keijo Imperial University, the fact that the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Medical Journal were banned by Governor General, the fact that his students asked for doctoral degrees from Kyoto Imperial University where he studied. Yun Il-sun crossed the limits of ‘colonial academism’ and acted as the agent of empire. This was made possible by the characteristics of the academic discipline of medicine, the environment of the Severance Union Medical College, and personal traits of superior ability and indifference to politics. I the postcolonial evolution of the ‘colonial academism’ and ‘culturalism.’ The mix of continuity and discontinuity from ‘colonial academism’ and the hybrid of Japanese academism and American academism, the Korean characteristics of ‘postcolonial academism.’ Yun tried to harmonize the American academism with the Japanese academism and the purity of academism. This effort was revealed as an emphasis on basic medicine and natural sciences. As combined with culturalism and indifference to politics, he was recognized as the symbol of ivory tower and academism.

Analysis of broadcasting review trends after enacting the Guidelines on promotional mass media appearances by physicians

Recently, as the general public has taken a greater interest in healthful lifestyles, the mass media became the public's core informant on health and medical information. However, serious violations of the broadcasting review regulations have occurred in health and medical broadcasting programs. In fact, many problems stem from the lack of expertise and ethics of physicians. Therefore, a more thorough verification of health and medical information and the selection of the physicians to appear on broadcasting is needed. In 2015, the Korean Medical Association established the Guidelines on promotional mass media appearances by physicians in order to reduce these problems. This study aimed to identify the problems with the health and medical programs, including an analysis of review results and cases and to explore ways to address the problems. We found that cases of violation of the broadcasting review regulations were increasing and the violation level was becoming more serious. We also found that the articles of the Korea Communications Standards Regulation that have been most often violated are Article 42 (medical treatment, etc.) and 46 (advertising effect). The cases violating both of these two articles comprised 96.5% of the total of 85 cases in 2015; these are involved with the expertise and ethics of physicians. In light of this, it is especially worth noting some physicians so called 'show doctor (named by Korean Medical Association)' appear on mass media and recommend specific treatments or products for marketing purpose. In conclusion, physicians to appear on broadcasting shall provide objective and evidence-based medical information with professional ethics.

Role and mission of the Committee of Health, Korean Medical Association

Recently, some medical issues in Korea have become social issues, and even political issues. Therefore, the responsibility of doctors to embrace socio-medical issues has increased. In response to this need, the Korean Medical Association is building up its Committee of Health. The mission of the Committee of Health of the Korean Medical Association is to identify and/or develop appropriate responses to those medical issues that have harmful effects on health. The committee is comprised of five action committees: those for socio-medical issues, health information issues, food issues, cruel issues, and environmental issues. These individual committees will devise plans for how to respond to and treat such issues, and also engage in various activities with not only medical societies, but also with social, legal and public communication groups.

The social problems surrounding doctor's certificates

A doctor's certificate is a statement from a doctor that attests to the results of a medical examination of a patient. It is based on the professional judgment of a doctor who has examined the state of a patient's healthBiased doctor's certificates, which can vary widely in their nature, would lead to the loss of the public's trust in the medical profession. Although the Korean Medical Association has set guidelines for issuing doctor's certificates, separate guidelines are necessary that address various issues, including, among others, the definition of doctor's certificates, the ethical duties of doctors, the purpose and issuance of doctor's certificates, the doctor-patient relationship, and the responsibilities of doctors and patients. Furthermore, hospitals should be required to conduct a review of the doctor's certificates that have critical importance, such as those that impact court hearings or suspension of sentences, by a committee of doctors, to ensure the accuracy and professional integrity of such doctor's certificates.

The challenges related to a new medical insurance policy for ultrasounds and their solutions

In the Republic of Korea, medical insurance coverage for ultrasounds began on October 1, 2013 for four major categories of illness: cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disorders, and rare and incurable diseases. However, several problems associated with this ultrasound insurance coverage have arisen: broad classification of ultrasound examination procedures, small and distorted insurance fees, and inappropriate insurance fee calculation methods. In order to prevent the deterioration of medical quality as well as confusion in the medical field, it is necessary that the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korean Medical Association, and other ultrasound-related academic societies cooperate to subdivide the classification of ultrasound examination procedures, modify the insurance fee, and properly calculate the ultrasound insurance fee.

1 Years after beginning of DRG services system

Today's diagnosis related group (DRG) services system has improved medical insurance fees and subdivisions of disease compared with the past DRG system, but does not appropriately take into account the development of complications of severe disease and does not properly compensate care providers for the costs of using the newest medical devices. The Korean DRG system model needs to reflect the medical environment and the latest developments. Therefore, Cooperation with the government, medical service personnel, and citizens is necessary for the improvement of the DRG services system.

An Introduction to the New Web Site of the Journal of the Korean Medical Association

The Journal of the Korean Medical Association (JKMA) established a new web site in July, 2010 available at http://jkma.org/. Here, we introduce the basic structure and concept of the new web site. The new web site provides current medical information from Korea to KMA members as well as global readers. The history of Korean medicine will also be organized in an easily accessible. Starting from this basic platform, JKMA will improve and expand other online functions in the near future. We hope every member of the Korean Medical Association enjoys browsing the content of JKMA through the new site and using the information they find in their clinical practice.

A Life of Ryu Sang-Kyu, a Colonial Modernized Intellectual / 의사학

Many of the Korean intellectuals resisted against suppression of Japanese Imperialism with the people during the Japanese occupation period. Ryu Sang-Kyu was also one of those intellectuals. Ryu Sang-Kyu was born in Gang-gye of North Pyongan-do on 10th November, 1897. He entered Keijo Medical College as one of the first entering students in 1916. However, at the end of his third year, he participated in the 3.1 Independence Movement of Korea and was suspended from the college which was run by the Japanese on account of his participation. Then moving to Shanghai, he joined Heung Sa Dan, an active patriotic group fighting for independence of Korea. He initiated the provisional government of Korea as a network investigator and he played second string to Ahn Chang-Ho, one of major Korean independence activists for four years. In 1923, following Ahn Chang-Ho's advice, he returned to Keijo Medical College to complete the course. Even in colonial Korea, he continued independence movement and was involved in Dong Woo Hoe, the branch of Heung Sa Dan in Korea. After the graduation of Keijo Medical College in 1927, he had served at the department of surgery in Keijo Medical College. In 1930, he participated in founding of the Korean Medical Association. He also raised public awareness by writing to many articles on hygiene and public health issues in public journals and newspapers. In short, he did his best as an intellectual, a medical doctor, an activist of independence movement until he died from streptococcal infection on 7th July, 1936.

A History of Korean Medical Association's Emblem : the Caduceus of Asklepios and Hermes / 의사학

An emblem represents the identity of an organization. Through the emblem of an organization, they differentiate the members from others and reinforce the membership, homogeneity, and pride. It is also a tool that an organization officially publicizes its mission and values. The symbol designed by Cho, Byungduk was announced as the first emblem of Korean Medical Association(KMA) on October 31st 1947. His design work has the caduceus with the Taeguk sign on the top, the symbol of Korea, and the Red Cross in the background including the name, 'KMA'. Since then, the emblem was revised three times: in 1964, 1973, and 1995. The current symbol is based on the design of the first one. Although Asklepian, the single serpent-entwined staff of Asklepios, is the one known as the symbol of medicine, this emblem takes the caduceus of Hermes who is the patron god of merchants, thieves, and travelers. The mistake comes from the unawareness of the distinction between the caduceus of Asklepios and Hermes. Moreover, it proves that U. S. Army Medical Corps(USAMC) heavily influenced the reconstruction of Korean health care system including KMA. The USAMC has used the symbol of caduceus since 1902. In 1947, the year that the first emblem of KMA was established, Southern part of Korea was governed by the United States Military Government(USMG, 1945-1948). The current emblem of KMA brings up a question whether we should continue to use the symbol that was taken from USMAC in the historical period of USMG governance. Celebrating 100th anniversary year of KMA, KMA needs to re-evaluate the appropriateness of the KMA symbol.

A Comparative Study on Evaluation of Physical Impairment Among Revised Evaluation by Medical Association, McBride Disablitlity Evaluation and Evaluation of Permanent Impairment by American Medical Association

In 1992 the Korean Medical Association intended to make revised evaluation and rate of physical impairment based upon rate and evaluation of physical impairment according to National Compensation Law which was composed of 14 subdivisions with various rates of physical impairment. Committee of Evaluation of Physical Impairment in Korean Neurosurgical Society provided revised evaluation of nervous or mental impairment, peripheral never impairment and spinal column impairment. Because McBride Disability Evaluation and Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment by American Medical Association have been used widely in this field the author describe evaluation and rate of physical impairment in each method briefly and compare to revised evaluation by Korean Medical Association in subject of neurologic and spinal impairment.

The Transition of Medical Terms in Korea between 1935 and 1985 / 의사학

Korean modern medicine was imported from American missionaries in the late 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, Japanese medicine, which was influenced by German medicine, was imported along with the Japanese invasion. After the liberation of Korea, however, American medicine influenced the Korean Medicine in a broad spectrum : for example, medical science, medical instruments, and health care system. Not only an unstable social environment but also the rapid development of medical science changed medical terms. In order to investigate the 50-year transition of medical terms in Korea, we compare the names of diseases in 'Cho-Sun-Eu-Bo' published in 1934, 1935 and 1936 with those in the 'Journal of the Korean Medical Association' published in 1985. The names of diseases were classified according to number 17 classification method of ICD9(International Classification of Disease). The proportionate ratio of the number of names of disease between 1935 and 1985 was 3.2 in neoplasms, 3.1 in diseases of the circulatory system, and 2.7 in mental disorders. The causes of the transition of the names of diseases were three. The first was the simple change of the rules of spelling, the second was the change of the concept of disease, and the third was the subdivision of diseases. 26.1%(N=37) of the names of diseases in 1935(N=142) were changed by 1985.