Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea: a narrative review

This study explores the development, roles, and key initiatives of the Regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea, detailing their evolution through four distinct phases and their impact on environmental health policy and local governance. It chronicles the establishment and transformation of th...

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Main Authors: Myung-Sook Park, Hwan-Cheol Kim, Woo Jin Kim, Yun-Chul Hong, Won-Jun Choi, Seock-Yeon Hwang, Jiho Lee, Young-Seoub Hong, Yong-Dae Kim, Seong-Chul Hong, Joo Hyun Sung, Inchul Jeong, Kwan Lee, Won-Ju Park, Hyun-Joo Bae, Seong-Yong Yoon, Cheolmin Lee, Kyoung Sook Jeong, Sanghyuk Bae, Jinhee Choi, Ho-Hyun Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ewha Womans University College of Medicine 2025-01-01
Series:The Ewha Medical Journal
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Online Access:http://www.e-emj.org/upload/pdf/emj-48-1-9.pdf
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author Myung-Sook Park
Hwan-Cheol Kim
Woo Jin Kim
Yun-Chul Hong
Won-Jun Choi
Seock-Yeon Hwang
Jiho Lee
Young-Seoub Hong
Yong-Dae Kim
Seong-Chul Hong
Joo Hyun Sung
Inchul Jeong
Kwan Lee
Won-Ju Park
Hyun-Joo Bae
Seong-Yong Yoon
Cheolmin Lee
Kyoung Sook Jeong
Sanghyuk Bae
Jinhee Choi
Ho-Hyun Kim
author_facet Myung-Sook Park
Hwan-Cheol Kim
Woo Jin Kim
Yun-Chul Hong
Won-Jun Choi
Seock-Yeon Hwang
Jiho Lee
Young-Seoub Hong
Yong-Dae Kim
Seong-Chul Hong
Joo Hyun Sung
Inchul Jeong
Kwan Lee
Won-Ju Park
Hyun-Joo Bae
Seong-Yong Yoon
Cheolmin Lee
Kyoung Sook Jeong
Sanghyuk Bae
Jinhee Choi
Ho-Hyun Kim
author_sort Myung-Sook Park
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the development, roles, and key initiatives of the Regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea, detailing their evolution through four distinct phases and their impact on environmental health policy and local governance. It chronicles the establishment and transformation of these centers from their inception in May 2007, through four developmental stages. Originally named Environmental Disease Research Centers, they were subsequently renamed Environmental Health Centers following legislative changes. The analysis includes the expansion in the number of centers, the transfer of responsibilities to local governments, and the launch of significant projects such as the Korean Children’s Environmental Health Study (Ko-CHENS ). During the initial phase (May 2007–February 2009), the 10 centers concentrated on research-driven activities, shifting from a media-centered to a receptor-centered approach. In the second phase, prompted by the enactment of the Environmental Health Act, six additional centers were established, broadening their scope to address national environmental health issues. The third phase introduced Ko-CHENS, a 20-year national cohort project designed to influence environmental health policy by integrating research findings into policy frameworks. The fourth phase marked a decentralization of authority, empowering local governments and redefining the centers' roles to focus on regional environmental health challenges. The Regional Environmental Health Centers have significantly evolved and now play a crucial role in addressing local environmental health issues and supporting local government policies. Their capacity to adapt and respond to region-specific challenges is essential for the effective implementation of environmental health policies, reflecting geographical, socioeconomic, and demographic differences.
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spelling doaj-art-6e2c2bd2680f4346a8d6d2820d3ab63d2025-08-21T04:41:08ZengEwha Womans University College of MedicineThe Ewha Medical Journal2234-25912025-01-0148110.12771/emj.2025.e31603Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea: a narrative reviewMyung-Sook Park0Hwan-Cheol Kim1Woo Jin Kim2Yun-Chul Hong3Won-Jun Choi4Seock-Yeon Hwang5Jiho Lee6Young-Seoub Hong7Yong-Dae Kim8Seong-Chul Hong9Joo Hyun Sung10Inchul Jeong11Kwan Lee12Won-Ju Park13Hyun-Joo Bae14Seong-Yong Yoon15Cheolmin Lee16Kyoung Sook Jeong17Sanghyuk Bae18Jinhee Choi19Ho-Hyun Kim20Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, KoreaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, KoreaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, KoreaInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, KoreaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Daejeon University, Daejeon, KoreaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, KoreaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, KoreaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, KoreaJeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, KoreaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, KoreaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, KoreaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, KoreaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, KoreaDivision of Environmental Health, Korea Environment Institute, Sejong, KoreaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University School of Medicine, Gumi, KoreaDepartment of Nano Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University, Seoul, KoreaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University, Wonju, KoreaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, KoreaSchool of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, KoreaDepartment of Nano Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University, Seoul, KoreaThis study explores the development, roles, and key initiatives of the Regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea, detailing their evolution through four distinct phases and their impact on environmental health policy and local governance. It chronicles the establishment and transformation of these centers from their inception in May 2007, through four developmental stages. Originally named Environmental Disease Research Centers, they were subsequently renamed Environmental Health Centers following legislative changes. The analysis includes the expansion in the number of centers, the transfer of responsibilities to local governments, and the launch of significant projects such as the Korean Children’s Environmental Health Study (Ko-CHENS ). During the initial phase (May 2007–February 2009), the 10 centers concentrated on research-driven activities, shifting from a media-centered to a receptor-centered approach. In the second phase, prompted by the enactment of the Environmental Health Act, six additional centers were established, broadening their scope to address national environmental health issues. The third phase introduced Ko-CHENS, a 20-year national cohort project designed to influence environmental health policy by integrating research findings into policy frameworks. The fourth phase marked a decentralization of authority, empowering local governments and redefining the centers' roles to focus on regional environmental health challenges. The Regional Environmental Health Centers have significantly evolved and now play a crucial role in addressing local environmental health issues and supporting local government policies. Their capacity to adapt and respond to region-specific challenges is essential for the effective implementation of environmental health policies, reflecting geographical, socioeconomic, and demographic differences.http://www.e-emj.org/upload/pdf/emj-48-1-9.pdfenvironmental healthhealth policylocal governmentrepublic of koreasocioeconomic factors
spellingShingle Myung-Sook Park
Hwan-Cheol Kim
Woo Jin Kim
Yun-Chul Hong
Won-Jun Choi
Seock-Yeon Hwang
Jiho Lee
Young-Seoub Hong
Yong-Dae Kim
Seong-Chul Hong
Joo Hyun Sung
Inchul Jeong
Kwan Lee
Won-Ju Park
Hyun-Joo Bae
Seong-Yong Yoon
Cheolmin Lee
Kyoung Sook Jeong
Sanghyuk Bae
Jinhee Choi
Ho-Hyun Kim
Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea: a narrative review
The Ewha Medical Journal
environmental health
health policy
local government
republic of korea
socioeconomic factors
title Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea: a narrative review
title_full Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea: a narrative review
title_fullStr Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea: a narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea: a narrative review
title_short Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea: a narrative review
title_sort environmental disease monitoring by regional environmental health centers in korea a narrative review
topic environmental health
health policy
local government
republic of korea
socioeconomic factors
url http://www.e-emj.org/upload/pdf/emj-48-1-9.pdf
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