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In 1948, the Republic of Korea was founded as a democratic nation. Since then, Korea had gone through vast social and political changes, including the three-year war, student revolution, military coup by the beginning of 1960s. From 1962, however, the government aggressively pursued economic growth through the implementation of 5-year economic development plans. The successful accomplishments of the plans had transformed Korea from an agriculture-based society to a manufacturing-based industrial society. The needs for health care services and the context for health care delivery also changed in association with such societal transformation. Reflecting those situational changes, the fourth 5-year economic development plan for 1977-1981, gave emphasis on social development as well. Thereafter the government increased policy efforts and investment for the improvement of health care sector. Consequently, public health also was expanded in terms of organizational network, human resources and programs. The issues for public health and the priority among them also changed. Now major concerns and challenges facing public health are chronic degenerative diseases, newly emerged infectious diseases, disparity in health status among socioeconomic classes, and environmental pollution that involve very diverse and complex factors. In order to cope with these challenges, public health requires close cooperation with and effective coordination of health related policies and programs of many other sectors than health. Thus the political support is important for the development of public health.
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