• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.78-90
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to propose ways of promoting medical tourism in Busan. For the purpose, this researcher made a questionnaire survey of Japanese tourists who used in Busan International Ferry Terminal between January and April 30, 2008. Findings of the study can be summarized as follows. 86.3% of all respondents had never experienced any medical service in Korea. 57.3% said that the most important thing is the level of medical technology. Most of respondents preferred massage treatment using spa and sea water, followed by Oriental medical services. To make medical conditions(price competitiveness, high-level medical technology, high-quality medical facilities) of Busan properly informed to the outside, it is required to make the city itself more internationally recognized through public relations and strengthening individual medical services provided in the city. It is also required to build up a non-stop service system that helps foreign tourists not only easily use medical institutions, but also better cope with a variety of problems that they might face during stay in the city. To be more trustable to foreign patients, medical services of Busan should be certified by JCI. Furthermore, it is very much needed to develop products which connect medicine with tourism, for example, such programs that combine medical services, tourism, recreation and leisure.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2015

China has a growing number of medical tourists to visit South Korea every year, with economic growth, and thus Korea's medical tourism is growing countries in the new growth engine industries and attracting attention. In this study, this time looking at the risks and benefits of medical tourism potential factors consumers feel the Chinese people for South Korea medical tourism, economic, based on existing research, functional, temporal, social, and psychological setting factors, risks and benefits conducted a study of the relationship between the purchase of your help. Risk factors identified through this study, we investigate expanding the overseas medical tourism market to visit Korea by managing the benefits and know the strategic implications that can achieve customer satisfaction by the service convenient for Chinese tourists.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.275-307
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• 2010

In the presidential new-year address in January 2, 2009, the President declared that 17 kinds of new driving force of growth that could create high-added value be selected to step up job creation and an increase in national wealth. The Ministry of Strategy & Finance announced plans for the 17 kinds of new driving force of growth after the presidential address. Specifically, that ministry announced an ambitious plan to select health care service named 'Global Health Care' as one of the five service industries that could create high-added value in a move to provide jobs to approximately 7,000 people and produce pervasive economic effects coming up to a trillion and 10 billion won. To attain the goal, several action plans were mapped out to globalize domestic medical institutions, to rearrange the relevant law and system for the purposes of raising awareness of domestic medical institutions among foreign patients and improving their accessibility and post-satisfaction level, and to lure lots of foreign patients through financial assistance. At the same time, the government announced plans to lure severe patients such as those in want of surgery or organ transplant, cancer patients or patients with heart diseases to create high-added value on a long-term basis. Thus, the government announced that it planned to formulate such strategies and to enter an agreement with foreign governments to attract plenty of foreign patients. In fact, however, there are little full-scale evaluation of medical tourism though it's been a year since it was introduced, and there are few actual efforts to implement what the government announced, either. According to the results of the evaluation of medical tourism, domestic hospitals are said to undergo little significant changes after the introduction of medical tourism, which shows that they take a dim view of medical tourism instead of having expectations for that. The medical tourism industries in major Asian countries have been dynamized, and there are several factors of their success. First of all, they are successful in creating new market opportunities by incorporating related industries such as medicine, tourism and IT and in developing medical tourism products and differentiated marketing by taking advantage of their competitive edge. They have offered full-fledged assistance to this sector, and another reason is the improved international credibility of their medical service. If our country fails to pinpoint our problems in consideration of the cases of the Asian countries or to provide appropriate financial aid, our country is bound to lag behind them. Given this reality, how to assess medical tourism and what challenges this sector is confronted with are discussed.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.115-124
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• 2011

1. Objectives : This study aimed to provide practical insights on the development of traditional Korean medical tourism and maximize the satisfaction of foreign patients. The main objectives of this study were also to evaluate Sasang Constitutional Medicine(S.C.M.) diagnosis cost from foreigners' perspectives. 2. Methods : For this study, the data were collected from tourists to Korea between January 3, 2010 to February 20, 2010. The sample used in this study was mainly composed of Japanese, Chines and US/Canada, because they are the major national visitor origin group to Korea. The primary data were collected by questionnaire survey using a standardized instrument with a convenience sampling procedure, and efforts of the interviews involved an on-site, self-administrated questionnaire to those sitting or visiting tourist attractions. The total size of the sample was 276 of which 275 showed no missing value against the factors needed for final analysis and were for analysis as an effective sample. SPSS 13.0 for window was used to analyze the collected data on which descriptive statistics and the Limited Dependent(LIMDEP) 8.0 program was used in estimating the willingness-to-pay(WTP) for traditional Korean medical tourism through the Contingent Valuation Method(CVM). A dichotomous choice question form of a CVM was applied to estimating the value. 3. Results and Conclusion: 1. There was significant statistical relationship between attributes when considering medical tourism destination and socio-demographic profiles such as age group, nationality, educational level and occupation. 2. In the level of recognition on Korean medicine, north Americans showed low level of recognition compared to other nationalities. In addition, in terms of age group, 20's and 30's showed low level of recognition on Korean medicine, 3. In relation to the level of interest on Korean medicine, Japanese respondents had higher interesting level on Korean medicine. Also singles had higher level of interest. 4. Regarding preferred Korean medical treatment program, there found significant statistical relationship between Korean medical treatment program and socio-demographic characteristics. 5. The estimating result of the logit model showed that the variables affecting the WTP for Sasang Constitutional medicine diagnosis were offered price and potential ability of medical tourism destination. 6. In relation to WTP for Sasang Constitutional medicine diagnosis, Japanese respondents showed a WTP of USD 62.69 and Chinese respondents showed USD 57.09. On the other hands, respondents from north America and other countries showed a WTP of USD 65.50. In conclusion, from this study, the results found that the opportunities in tradition Korean medical tourism are immense and the possible rewards are numerous. It is time to continue to promote 'Sasang Constitutional medicine' and make the Korean medical tourism programs considering on nationalities, age group, gender and WTP.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.29-39
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• 2021

The global aging phenomenon and new lifestyles have a worldwide attention to the new tourism form of health tourism. The purpose of this study is to analyze and suggest the competitive types of health tourism. Through the literature review, the theoretical base on the concept and type of health tourism and hierarchical spatial types such as medical space, semi-medical space, non-medical space, and natural healing space, based on medical intervention was established. A questionnaire survey was conducted for the professionals in Jeju area about tourism, health care, policy. As a result of analysis based on competitiveness advantage factors of Jeju health tourism, Jeju health tourism was confirmed to have higher importance in the natural healing space than the health service center space. Three kinds of resources such as natural resources, healing resources, and active resources of Jeju type health tourism were derived and applied to two hierarchical spaces, natural healing space and non-medical healing space, based on medical intervention.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.107-114
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze actual status of foreign patients who visited hospital of Korean medicine and suggest developmental direction of korean medical tourism. Methods : This study includes 675 foreign patients who visited spine-specialized hospital of Korean medicine from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Based on computerized medical records, patients' age, gender, country, date of initial and last visit, chief complaint, treatment period and species of treatment were collected. These data were used for analyzation of actual condition of medical tourism at hospital of Korean medicine. Results : A total of 675 foreign patients visited spine-specialized hospital of Korean medicine. 395 patients(59 %) were female and the forties was the most common by ages. Patients from Japan were the most common followed by Russia and United States of America. Patients visited hospital 5.1 times during 27.4 days in average. There were 526 cases of spinal pain and only 52 cases were non-musculoskeletal disease. The most frequently performed treatment was general acupuncture treatment while moxibustion and bee venom acupuncture were remarkably infrequently treated. Conclusions : The result of this study suggests potential possibility of development of Korean medical tourism focused on disease cure as well as current trend of beauty and Korean medical experience at the Korean medical tourism field.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.463-475
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• 2014

Medical tourism which is considered a new growth engine of the 21th century has been rapidly developing in the both quantity and quality. However, medical tourism products offered by our country are not enough to be differentiated according to the need of medical tourists. This study tried to search for the solutions in the medical tourism attributes. This confirmed whether the involvement of Hallyu(Korean wave) which has been growing steadily since 2000 affects medical tourism or not. For these purposes, there were 5 hypotheses set and empirical analysis was conducted through a survey. SPSS 20.0 statistical program was used for the empirical analysis and the established hypotheses were all adopted as a result of verification. It was thus confirmed that the involvement of Hanrye affected medical tourism attributes, satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Also, medical tourism attributes affected satisfaction and behavioral intentions.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.85-110
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• 2011

As Gangwon-do Province needs an environmental-friendly alternative tourism according to low carbon green growth, this study analyzes specialized fields in green health industry, selects seven specialized fields in green health industry that is fit to Gangwon-do Province, and suggests a development strategy by conducting recognition surveys on preference and impotence of the specialized fields. Surveys and interviews are conducted of 106 students at Green Health Industry Education Center which is operating by Kwandong University and 84 persons who work at medical institutions and tourism related companies in Ganwondo. The surveys and interviews were completed from November 5 to November 19 in 2010, determined factors through a factor analysis when they have many questions, and analyzed by using SPSS 14.0. Out of the seven specialized fields, rest & recuperation field is highly recognized. In order to have competitive edge compared to other self-governing provinces, Ganwon-do Province should prioritize rest and recuperation field. A healthcare program in the green health industry specific to Ganwon-do Province includes hot springs and spa programs as a priority. Gangwon-do's hot springs are deemed to be competitive resources as global medical tourists prefer spa and sauna healthcare programs, while the province promotes its spring resources and builds medical tourism infrastructures. Gangwon-do Province can promote a medical tourism industry that is well suitable for the strength and characteristics of the province. It might pursue oriental medicine therapy tourism, which is related to a recuperating medical service that uses both oriental and western medicine. It can also run such programs as forest bathing (oxygen road), spring and spa, and sea water treatment, which are the specialized fields in green health industry with respect to recreation and healthcare.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.10-19
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the priorities among the environmental factors on, and to build core strategies for fostering Korean medical tourism. Methods: We used an A'WOT hybrid method which combined SWOT with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), that is, the strategic factors in each strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats group were selected by medical tourism experts' opinion, and then the importance of the factors in each SWOT group were pair-wise compared. Results: The results presented that the opportunities and the strengths groups are relatively more important than the other groups. The key competitive factors include high-quality human resources of traditional medicine, modernized system of Korean medical institutions, and local governments' willpower to promote herbal industries. Conclusions: Based on the results of analysis, it is suggested for government to build a timely strategic plan, to enhance cooperative activities with the private sector, to organize local resources, and to provide marketing support.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.111-128
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• 2016

Trade between nations has been considered as exchange for material things. According to recent changes in the paradigm of global trade, trade is shifting focus on the exchange of an immaterial being. Among them, the service sector is growing fast and the health service has shown exceptional growth as the healthcare market is consistently expanding. It is also part of the global service targeting people all around the world. People visiting other countries for medical service tend to spend more money and stay longer than a traveler. For these reasons, global medical service is in the spotlight as a promising and higher value-added business. The global medical service industry has been developed around Asia, specifically Thailand, Singapore, India, etc. Compared to them, Korea has come late into the market of global healthcare and the Korean government is striving to attract foreign patients. Nevertheless, there is a lack of effort to make foreign patients visiting Korea revisit Korea. Regarding foreign patients' medical disputes, these are not yet a problem officially; however, the government cannot leave the matter as it is. Medical dispute related with foreign patients is a highly complex issue due to different languages, nationalities, cultures, etc. Particularly, Korea's medical tourism is developed with Chinese visiting Korea for plastic surgery and cosmetic procedure. Thus, the Korean medical tourism market can be crowded with a lot of minor medical agencies, so-called brokers, getting foreign patients connected to the medical institutions. Consequently, Korea has received a large number of complaints and dissatisfaction. No one can predict and know what's supposed to happen in the future. Efforts of the Korean government and medical institute attracting foreign patients could be in vain. In order to take a step forward, this paper will do research on present conditions and look for strategies of improving this industry, focusing on the part of medical agency and contributing to the improvement of the Korean medical tourism industry.