Muan County's Evolving Health Policies Focus on Prevention and Care

Muan County in South Jeolla Province is transforming its health policies.

Previously focused on disease detection and treatment, the county is now expanding its approach to include health risk assessments before illness, rehabilitation after disease, and preparations for end-of-life care.

This shift is driven by rapid aging; in 2021, the proportion of residents aged 65 and older surpassed 20.3%, marking the county's entry into a super-aged society. The increasing number of elderly individuals and single-person households, along with rising chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, has made it difficult to address local health issues with a treatment-centered healthcare model alone.

For instance, the rate of hypertension diagnosis among residents aged 70 and older is 60.1%, significantly higher than the overall average of 28.7%. Similarly, the diabetes diagnosis rate stands at 29.6%, compared to the overall average of 15.7%.

The focus has shifted from merely living longer to maintaining a healthy daily life, which has become a key issue for local health policy.

In response, Muan County is strengthening an integrated health management system that connects frailty prevention, chronic disease management, disability rehabilitation, cancer patient support, and well-dying initiatives. This approach aims to enable residents to maintain a healthy life in familiar surroundings.

At the heart of Muan County's health policy changes is the 'ICT Integrated Home Health Management Project.'

Previously, home health management involved nurses and therapists visiting the homes of seniors aged 65 and older to assess their health and provide tailored services. However, the limited workforce and the vast area they cover made it challenging to meet the growing demand for health management.

To address this, Muan County has introduced an ICT integrated home health management system that combines traditional home visits with AI and IoT-based health management for seniors.

This system evaluates frailty and digital literacy during home visits and, if necessary, connects residents with health monitoring devices like blood pressure monitors and activity trackers, empowering them to manage their health independently. This dual approach of in-person and remote health management enhances service sustainability and efficiency.

This initiative aligns with the government's integrated support for community care and frailty prevention, marking a significant shift towards a preventive system that identifies health risks early to prevent frailty and chronic disease progression.

As of June 2026, the Muan County Health Center is managing 1,715 residents through the ICT integrated home health management project, while also providing on-site services to check blood pressure, blood sugar, and overall health at senior centers and villages.

Building on these achievements, Muan County was recognized as an excellent institution in the home health management sector of the integrated health promotion project strategy in 2025, receiving commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare.

Preventing cardiovascular diseases is also a major focus of Muan County's health policy.

Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of death in South Korea, with Muan County reporting a heart disease mortality rate of 75.5 per 100,000 people and a cerebrovascular disease rate of 50.4, ranking high after cancer, pneumonia, and frailty.

However, the risk of cardiovascular diseases is no longer confined to the elderly. Factors such as Westernized diets, lack of exercise, obesity, and stress are contributing to rising rates of hypertension and diabetes among younger populations.

According to the 2024 National Health and Nutrition Survey, the prevalence of hypertension increased by 0.9 percentage points among those aged 19-29, 1.8 points among those aged 30-39, and 2.7 points among those aged 40-49 compared to 2014. Similarly, diabetes prevalence rose by 0.9 points among those aged 19-29 and 2.0 points among those aged 30-39.

Hypertension and diabetes can be effectively prevented or managed through regular monitoring of blood pressure and blood sugar, along with improvements in diet and exercise habits. Knowing one's blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels is the first step in preventing cardiovascular diseases.

To promote this awareness, the Muan County Health Center operates the 'Know Your Vascular Numbers' campaign and health promotion booths at local festivals, universities, workplaces, and community centers.

In collaboration with Mokpo National University, the county supports the formation and practice of healthy habits among young people through the '2030 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Management Program.'

In 2025, 4,032 residents participated in the campaign at 16 locations, and in the first half of 2026, over 1,000 people checked their blood pressure and blood sugar at three locations.

This shift from seeking treatment only when health issues arise to fostering a culture of prevention, where residents actively monitor their health metrics and change their lifestyles, is gradually taking root in the community.

Community-centered rehabilitation programs supporting the health and rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities are also being strengthened.

According to data from the National Rehabilitation Center, the rate of general health checkups among people with disabilities is 12% lower than that of non-disabled individuals, and the cancer screening rate is 12.2% lower. However, the prevalence of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity is relatively high among this group.

Individuals with disabilities often face challenges in accessing appropriate screenings and health management due to mobility issues and difficulties in reaching medical facilities, increasing the likelihood of worsening conditions or additional health problems.

The Muan County Health Center is managing 293 registered individuals with disabilities, providing home visits, rehabilitation exercises, post-discharge consultations, and connections to medical and welfare resources, as well as rehabilitation programs.

This support ensures that individuals with disabilities can continue their rehabilitation after returning home or preparing for discharge from medical facilities, facilitating their adaptation to daily life and social participation.

Importantly, the health center collaborates with disability welfare centers, the county's social welfare department, local universities, and medical institutions to operate a community rehabilitation council that shares resources and information among participating organizations.

This collaboration lays the foundation for a community rehabilitation system that supports not only the health management of individuals with disabilities but also their independent living and reintegration into society.

The Muan County Health Center received recognition for these efforts, winning a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare at the '2026 Disability Health and Welfare Integration Performance Conference.'

Cancer has long been the leading cause of death in South Korea. However, as of 2024, the cancer screening rate is around 60%, indicating that about four out of ten adults have not undergone screening in the past two years.

Early detection is crucial for cancer, as it significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and survival, making regular screenings essential.

The Muan County Health Center provides guidance on national cancer screenings for the six major cancers, including stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, cervical, and lung cancers, and offers financial support for screening costs.

To enhance access to treatment for low-income cancer patients facing financial difficulties, the county provides medical expense support.

Health management continues for cancer patients returning to the community after treatment. Support programs, including self-help meetings and craft activities, are offered to help cancer survivors achieve emotional stability and social support.

As of May 2026, 2,733 residents of Muan County have participated in national cancer screenings, and medical expenses have been supported for 17 low-income cancer patients.

The cancer management system is expanding beyond early detection to include screenings, treatment, financial support, and health management for home-based cancer patients, facilitating their return to daily life.

With the entry into a super-aged society, there is growing interest in how to prepare for the end of life.

The culture of 'well-dying,' which emphasizes respecting individual values and choices in end-of-life care, is gaining traction, moving beyond mere life extension.

The Muan County Health Center promotes the well-dying culture by providing guidance on advance directives and how to prepare advance medical directives.

Residents receive counseling and education to help them make informed decisions about end-of-life treatment and care.

As of June 2026, 3,625 residents in Muan County have registered advance medical directives. In 2025, well-dying education was conducted for 293 individuals across seven institutions, and in the first half of 2026, 94 individuals received training at three institutions.

The well-dying initiative is viewed not merely as education for preparing for death but as a health policy centered on self-determination, helping individuals maintain dignity and make their own choices until the end of their lives.

Muan County's local health initiatives are evolving beyond the limited roles of disease treatment and medical expense support.

The focus is now on early detection of frailty, prevention of chronic diseases, support for rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals with disabilities, and accompanying cancer patients through treatment and into dignified end-of-life care.

In a super-aged society, the role of local health services cannot be confined to connecting sick residents with treatment facilities.

The new standard for local health policy is to enable residents to manage their health where they live, receiving medical, rehabilitation, and care support as needed while maintaining dignity until the end of their lives.

Muan County plans to continue expanding preventive services that combine home health management with digital technology and strengthen connections among medical, welfare, and rehabilitation institutions to enhance a resident-centered integrated health management system.

Lee Haeng-sook, head of the Muan County Health Promotion Division, stated, “In the future, local health initiatives must develop into a system that organically connects disease treatment with prevention, health management, rehabilitation, and care. We will continuously strengthen tailored health management services throughout the life cycle so that every resident can lead a healthy and dignified life in their community.”

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