An Analysis of the Status Change of Korean Oriental Medicine

한의학의 지위 변화 요인에 대한 분석

Korean Oriental Medicine has experienced a dramatic status change since the 19th century. Korean Oriental Medicine had been the only authentic medicine, but lost its status and fell as an illegal medicine through the Japanese rule, and recently revived successfully. The dramatic change of Korean Oriental Medicine needs an explanation. This paper explored the cause of the dramatic change and found the following things. First, the medical policy of the State directly influenced to the status of Korean Oriental Medicine. During the Japanese rule, the medical policy for Korean Oriental Medicine was very oppressive. After Liberation, a kind of noninterference policy was carried out. The change of the medical policy gave direct influence to the status of Korean Oriental Medicine. Second, the needs for medical service have been expanded. At the same time, the concern for tradition has been increased. And the supply of Korean Oriental Medicine has also increased by the establishments of Korean Oriental Medicine departments. Third, the internal growth of Korean Oriental Medicine brought to elevating the status of Korean Oriental Medicine. After 1945, Korean Oriental Medicine endeavored to strengthen the organization and to activate the academic society. Based on the above factors, Korean Oriental Medicine has achieved a remarkable status change during last several decades. We can not skip Korean Oriental Medical doctors' desperate efforts to enhance the status of Korean Oriental Medicine. Korean Oriental Medicine achieved the modernization. It's difficult to find similar case. It can be a model of modernization of tradition.