Occupational Health in Korea

South Korea achieved very rapid economic development between the 1960s and 1990s, with a focus on manufacturing, during which time primary industry strikingly  dwindled. Recently, Korea’s economy has begun to change from one that is manufacturing based to an economy that is essentially service based. In the last 20 years, small businesses have greatly increased in number and the proportions of working females and aged workers have increased. Level of occupational safety and health is parallel to that of economic development in a country. Korea has rather short history of economic development than those of developed countries. Thus Korea has experienced typical occupational diseases which occurred past in developed countries. Simultaneously Korea has also faced work-related health problems such as musculoskeletal disorders or work stress-related ill health which have been encountered in developed countries.  Recently, Korean government has extended the target of occupational health to service sector. In addition, the main focus in Korean occupational health moved from health protection to health promotion. This presentation will give an overview of the occupational health in Korea: What are   the key occupational diseases? How is occupational health provided? Who provides   the services? How is occupational health represented? What legislation does Korea   have that impacts on the provision of occupational health? What about research and  education? What has Korea contributed to the advancement of the specialty?