• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.112-121
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• 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to reflect upon the process of the legislation of the National Medical Services Law for traditional Korean medicine practitioners (TKM practitioners), especially at the Assembly plenary session of 1951. Methods: Various primary sources related to the legislation were examined, especially those in National Assembly Records and newspapers. Results: In 1950, the National Assembly wanted to establish the National Medical Services Law (國民醫療法) replacing the colonial medical services law (朝鮮醫療令), but it ended in failure. So in 1951, the National Assembly tried again. First, legislator Han Gukwon (韓國源), with 83 other legislators, introduced a bill for the new national health care system. The Society and Health (社會保健委員會) and the Legislation and Judiciary subcommittees (法制司法委員會) deliberated on this bill, and each proposed an amendment to the National Assembly. In the process of careful deliberation of these three proposals, the Ministry of Health and legislator Kim Ikgi (金翼基) each came up with a further amendment. Ultimately, Kim Ikgi's amendment was accepted by the National Assembly. According to his proposal, TKM practitioners were titled 'Hanuisa (漢醫師)', and the medical office name of TKM practitioners became 'Hanuiwon (漢醫院)'. Conclusions: The National Medical Services Law passed in 1951 was the beginning of the unique dual national medical license system of Korea. It recognized Western medicine and TKM practitioners equally under the national license system.