Abstract
Korea is one of OECD countries in Asia, which had high economic growth and could achieve universal coverage of health care shortly, only 12 years of development by setting limited benefit package in addition to low contribution rate. Rapid expansion of insurance coverage and benefit package was accordance with country’s high economic growth. In addition, political context is also crucial for the achievement, conflict between the North and South Korea and military regime tried to obtain legitimacy in the process of gaining political power, furthermore, integration of insurance schemes was succeeded during new popular political party become a government. Legislation is the main mechanisms of reform in Korea in addition to strong political commitment. Strategies of reform included expansion of insurance coverage and benefit package, redeployment of health resources, quality improvement, structural reform of insurance system, reform of payment mechanisms and separation of drug prescribing and dispensing role, and increase investment in health promotion. Even Korea succeeded in achieving universal coverage some problems remained. For the recent reform, there is not enough evidence to show success and it’s still too early to evaluate. Success in reform is determined not only by appropriate designed of the reform but also political factors, especially, political factor in the health sector.
