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KMID : 0857920230260010125
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Yonsei Journal of Medical History
2023 Volume.26 No. 1 p.125 ~ p.153
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Reproduction of Contraceptive Technology: Localization of Plastic Intrauterine Device Manufacture in Korea in the1960s
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Je Hwan-Ju
Jung Jun-Ho
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Abstract
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The plastic intrauterine device (IUD), which began to spread rapidly from the United States (U.S.) in 1960, was considered a breakthrough in population control efforts in resource-limited settings. Previously, condoms, spermicides, and other contraceptive methods had to be used before, during, or after sex. However, the IUD decoupled contraception from sex, and required no further participation from the user after the initial insertion. The introduction of these contraceptive technologies led to a shift in population control from a user-centered approach, such as education and awareness, to a supply-centered approach, such as the introduction of more diverse and affordable contraceptive technologies. This study focuses on the manufacturing and production processes of a specific type of IUD, the Lippes Loop, which formed the material basis for the spread and use of IUDs in Korea in the 1960s. The transfer of IUD production technology from the U.S. to South Korea was driven not only by concerns about population control, but also by institutional conflicts and concerns about patents and standardization. Introduced to Korea through the Pathfinder Fund, the IUD quickly became a key tool in Korean family planning, contrary to the intentions of the Population Council, which valued research and statistics. Amid this rapid adoption, the Population Council modified its policy to produce standardized devices within its sphere of influence. To this end, U.S. technicians were sent to deploy U.S.-produced molds in South Korea, and the organization was able to introduce U.S. standardized IUDs into Korean clinical settings on a large scale. At the same time, the production process in Korea provided the basis for local production and large-scale supply of contraceptive devices in other low- and middle-income countries.
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KEYWORD
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Intrauterine Device (IUD), Lippes Loop, Population Council, Family Planning, Contraceptives
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