As South Korea approaches a super-aged society, the National Health Insurance is set to evolve from merely covering treatment costs to encompassing disease prevention and integrated care throughout a person's life. Kang Cheong-hee, the chairperson of the National Health Insurance Service, declared a 'Reboot Health Insurance' initiative, which signifies a fundamental redesign of the health insurance system, during a press conference marking her 50th day in office.
On September 8, Kang held the press conference at a restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, where she outlined her vision for the future operation of the service. She announced three main objectives: shifting from a 'system-centered' approach to a 'citizen-centered' one, transforming the service into an 'AI-based health welfare platform,' and establishing a sustainable health insurance system through selective focus.
Kang emphasized the need to transition the paradigm of health insurance to focus on 'citizen well-being.' Previously, health insurance, long-term care insurance, and community integrated care operated as separate systems. Moving forward, these will be interconnected around the life of each individual.
“The key is to ensure that medical and nursing care are closely integrated in the field, allowing patients to receive continuous services in their own communities,” she explained. “If frailty is neglected, it incurs enormous social costs, including on health insurance finances, so we must shift the system towards prevention and management.”
To achieve this, she identified the 'AI-based health welfare platform' as a crucial tool. Kang stated, “We will utilize the big data of the entire population to preemptively block diseases and create a system that provides necessary health management and care services to individuals at the right time.” This reflects her commitment to transforming the service from a mere insurance premium collection and payment agency into a comprehensive health welfare service platform.
Kang also announced plans for significant expenditure restructuring to ensure the sustainability of health insurance finances. “We will reassess all projects from scratch, evaluating whether the benefits justify the financial input and whether they lead to tangible results for citizens,” she said.
Regarding the legal cap on health insurance premiums (8%), she noted, “At this stage, we are not considering raising the legal limit. Instead of increasing premiums and burdening citizens, we will focus on reducing unnecessary expenditures and directing funds to essential areas.”
Kang also addressed the introduction of special judicial police authority to crack down on illegal practices that drain health insurance finances, stating, “We will actively pursue this in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, ensuring a safe treatment environment without infringing on human rights.”
During the Q&A session, she provided candid responses to pressing issues both within and outside the service. When asked if reduced patient numbers due to conflicts with the medical community had led to decreased spending, Kang firmly stated, “Not at all. We have actually spent more on emergency care and essential medical support projects.” She emphasized, “If we stop investing just because patient numbers have decreased, essential medical services in the community will collapse. It is the role of health insurance to create an environment where hospitals can operate.”
Kang expressed concern over the continuous freeze of health insurance premium rates, saying, “If we take a break now, we will have to raise them significantly later. Continuous freezes are not beneficial for the service.”
She also commented on the ongoing tobacco lawsuit at the Supreme Court, stating, “Regardless of the outcome, the awareness raised about the harmful effects has been significant. If substances harmful to citizens are clearly proven, the service must actively pursue claims for damages.”
Kang concluded the press conference by stating, “The success of policies is determined not by reports but in the field. I promise to listen to the voices of field experts and create tangible changes that citizens can feel, ensuring that 'Reboot Health Insurance' is not just a slogan.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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