Pukyong National University

Pukyong National University Professor Lee Eun, Publishes Study on Regional Inequality in Korean Medical Facilities

- Quantitative Analysis of Public and Private Healthcare Facility Distribution Published in <PLOS ONE>

Professor Lee Eun from the Department of Scientific Computing at Pukyong National University, along with undergraduate student Park Ji-yoo (3rd year) and Dr. Jeon Byeong-yoon, published their paper titled ‘Regional disparities in the distribution of public and private healthcare facilities in South Korea’ in the international journal <PLOS ONE> on September 24.

This study quantitatively analyzes the distribution patterns of public and private healthcare facilities, shedding light on the issue of regional disparities in healthcare accessibility faced by Korean society. The findings are expected to offer important insights into future policies on the allocation of healthcare resources and the reinforcement of essential medical services.

Professor Lee Eun systematically evaluated healthcare facility inequality using quantitative indicators such as the Concentration Index (CI) and the scaling exponent, revealing that the disparity between the capital and non-capital regions may widen over time.

Professor Lee emphasized, “Regional healthcare disparity is not merely a matter of the number of facilities. It results from a complex interplay of factors such as population distribution, socioeconomic conditions, and institutional context. Policies based on accurate diagnoses of inequality should focus on expanding public investment and strengthening essential specialized sectors.”