Identifying Stakeholder Perspectives on Data Industry Regulation in South Korea

Purpose – The literature on the growth and regulations pertaining to private security has been largely confined to western countries, with very little published on other jurisdictions including South Korea. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general account of the development of the South Korean industry and an assessment of regulation, covering the period from 1950 to the present day, and to explore areas of possible improvement in regulation. Design/methodology/approach – A research synthesis method was utilised to identify and integrate qualitative materials on turning points and regulatory changes, with the addition of a gap analysis based on established concepts of best practice in industry regulation. Findings – The security industry in South Korea has grown exponentially, worth over $2.7 billion per annum. Notwithstanding this, regulation evolved through piecemeal rather than comprehensive changes. The problem is similar to those found in many other countries. However, in South Korea, over-reliance on market mechanisms of regulation, combined with the government’s lukewarm stance on stimulating the non-public security sector, means that there are inadequate guarantees of baseline competence and integrity. Practical implications – The study demonstrates the need for governments to be more proactive and consultative in regulating the burgeoning security industry, and move away from ad hoc responses to industry problems. Regulation should be comprehensive in covering all relevant operational aspects of security work that are reflective of a growth profile. Regulatory agencies should actively explore training programmes linked to career path development and professionalisation. Execution of regulatory enforcement should be independent from political or third-party influence. Regulators should be innovative in applying and evaluating research-based regulatory strategies. Originality/value – The study provides a comprehensive overview of the South Korean security industry and regulatory issues, adding to a more international understanding of regulatory challenges in security.

Eight-year experience of using HTA in drug reimbursement: South Korea

BackgroundThe emergence of high-priced potential cures has sparked significant health policy discussions in South Korea, where the healthcare system is funded through a single-payer National Health Insurance model. We conducted focus group interviews (FGIs) and accompanying surveys with diverse stakeholders to comprehensively understand related issues and find better solutions to the challenges brought by these technologies.MethodsFrom October to November 2022, 11 FGIs were conducted with stakeholders from various sectors, including government payers, policy and clinical experts, civic and patient organisations, and the pharmaceutical industry, involving a total of 25 participants. These qualitative discussions were supplemented by online surveys to effectively capture and synthesise stakeholder perspectives.ResultsAffordability was identified as a critical concern by 84% of stakeholders, followed by clinical uncertainty (76%) and limited value for money (72%). Stakeholders expressed a preference for both financial-based controls and outcome-based pricing strategies to mitigate these challenges. Despite the support for outcome-based refunds, payers raised concerns about the feasibility of instalment payment models, whether linked to outcomes or not, due to the specific challenges of the Korean reimbursement system and the potential risk of ‘cumulative liabilities’ from ongoing payments for previously administered treatments. In addition, the FGIs highlighted the need for clear budgetary limits for drugs with high uncertainties, with mixed opinions on the creation of special silo funds (64.0% agreement). Less than half (48%) endorsed the use of external reference pricing, currently applied to such essential drugs in South Korea. A significant majority (84%), predominantly non-pharma stakeholders, advocated for addressing cost-effectiveness uncertainty through re-assessment once long-term clinical data become available.ConclusionsThis study uncovers a broad agreement among stakeholders on the need for more effective value assessment methodologies for high-priced potential cures, stressing the importance of more robust and comprehensive re-assessment supported by long-term data collection, rather than primarily relying on external reference pricing. Each type of stakeholders exhibited a cautious approach to their specific uncertainties, suggesting that new funding strategies should accommodate these uncertainties with predefined guidelines and agreements prior to the initiation of managed entry agreements.

Introduction: In addition to some countries facing challenges regarding patients with rare diseases, it has also become an important international topic. Through the efforts of many nations around the world toward providing benefits for the development of orphan drugs to improve the right to treatment of patients with rare diseases, various orphan drugs have been launched in the market. However, controversial issues such as impact on budgets due to high prices and concerns about the uncertainty of clinical outcomes are being raised. For this review, the official websites of government agencies related to the Korean national health insurance were investigated. Areas covered: This paper reviews key factors that should be considered in the process of development, regulation, and market access of orphan drugs in South Korea with a particular focus on the pricing and reimbursement review process. Expert opinion: It is necessary to understand the pricing and reimbursement system of orphan drugs in terms of regulations and market access from the perspective of stakeholders, namely research and development companies, patients, policymakers, and physicians. Stakeholder discussions regarding value-based pricing methodologies such as new outcome-based ris-sharing agreement schemes and multi–criteria decision analysis should be conducted more prospectively.

A shift from chemical oxygen demand to total organic carbon for stringent industrial wastewater regulations: Utilization of organic matter characteristics

BackgroundIn response to global reforms emphasizing competency-based learning and integrated curricula, South Korea is transitioning from its traditional 2 + 4 medical education model to a 6-year continuous medical curriculum. This shift addresses challenges such as fragmented learning pathways and insufficient integration between foundational and clinical training, which have limited the development of professional competencies and holistic student engagement. However, empirical evidence on stakeholder perspectives regarding this transition remains limited. This study aimed to examine faculty and student views on the proposed reform to inform its implementation and contribute to broader discussions on medical education transformation.MethodsA mixed-method study was conducted at Seoul National University College of Medicine. Quantitative data were collected from an online survey completed by 142 faculty members and 133 medical students. Qualitative data were gathered from two focus group interviews with fifteen students from both pre-medical and clinical phases. Survey responses were analyzed using Welch’s t-tests, and thematic analysis was applied to focus group interview data.ResultsQuantitative analysis revealed significant differences between faculty and student perceptions of the proposed 6-year continuous medical curriculum. Faculty reported higher scores for perceived needs (M = 4.05 vs. 2.79, p < .001), continuity, motivation, and curriculum supplementation (all p < .01). Students expressed greater concerns about curriculum overcrowding, academic burden, reduced interdisciplinary learning, and stress (all p < .01), and prioritized vacation time (M = 4.39 vs. 3.82, p < .01), extracurricular support (M = 4.14 vs. 3.52, p < .01), and pass/fail grading (M = 4.09 vs. 3.36, p < .01). Faculty emphasized integration of spiral and repetitive curriculum (M = 3.55 vs. 3.49, p = .02) and new content such as data science and health systems science (all p < .01). Thematic analysis identified student expectations for early integration of clinical and foundational subjects, balanced workload, and structured support systems, alongside concerns about marginalization of the pre-medical phase and prolonged stress.ConclusionThe transition to a 6-year continuous medical curriculum requires a comprehensive approach that engages key stakeholders, particularly students. Balancing educational innovation with curriculum manageability and student well-being is essential. Participatory design, phased implementation, and robust support systems are needed to ensure sustainable and adaptive curriculum reform.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-07998-8.

The relevance of this study lies in the fact that the rapid growth of interest in computer games in Russia requires timely state regulatory support of this industry. The world has accumulated sufficient interesting experience of state regulation of sports, which is advisable to use in domestic practice. The purpose of the study is to analyze the practice of state regulation of eSports in China as one of the leading countries in this field and to substantiate recommendations for the formation of a model of state regulation of the e-sports industry in the Russian Federation. The methodology of the study is based on an integrated approach that allows identifying the key features of the formation of the management model of the eSports industry and establishing the reasons for the success of the management system in China, a country that is a leader in the global esports market. The research is based on the analysis of financial statements of leading companies and industry associations, reports of the information center of the Internet Network of China, regulatory legal acts regulating the sphere of both esports and the gaming industry as a whole. The authors of the article used a comparative regional analysis of the development of eSports, studied market trends in the industry, and assessed the impact of historical events on the eSports market. The results of the study allow us to consider the development of esports in China in the context of promoting the digital economy and digital platforms. It is proved that the rapid development of esports in China is an example of joint efforts of both government and business – represented by the main players in the gaming industry and electronic platforms. The focus on a global expansion strategy has allowed China to outpace not only Japan and South Korea in its region, but also the world’s largest esports markets in North America and Europe. Scientific novelty is a unique phenomenon where the state takes an active part in the control and development of the gaming industry. This model can be studied and analyzed to identify the advantages and disadvantages of state regulation of the esports industry. The results of a study of the best practices of the PRC in the field of state regulation of the eSports industry can serve as a basis and example when developing regulatory regulation of this industry in our country.

The Private Security Industry in South Korea: A Familiar Tale of Growth, Gaps and the Need for Better Regulation

Jogaejeot, seasoned Venerupis philippinarum, is a traditional Korean fermented food, and hepatitis A virus (HAV) can be transmitted through contaminated food, especially bivalve shellfish, causing acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Here, we carried out a phylogenetic analysis to identify and characterize HAV strains in jogaejeot samples associated with hepatitis A (HA) outbreaks in Seoul, South Korea, in 2019. The HAV strains were identified using blast and molecular analysis of the amplified HAV VP1-P2B genome region. The HAV strains identified in the five jogaejeot samples shared at least 99% sequence identity, were all classified as genotype IA and were most closely related to strains that are widespread in East Asia. These results support a link between the consumption of jogaejeot and the HA outbreaks observed in 2019 in Seoul. In addition, they indicate a need for more stringent enforcement of food safety regulations for the shellfish industry, especially against HAV, and the value of widespread vaccination.

Advances in information technology (IT) bring about technological innovation in financial businesses, referred to as financial technology (fintech), beyond the traditional financial industry. While fintech implies more convenient and various financial services to customers, it leads to more complexity in the financial sector, as different industry players (e.g., IT firms) can participate in financial businesses. The complexity of fintech causes controversial issues related to policies and the appropriate development direction. In order to provide insight into the current state of fintech, this study explores the fundamental understanding of the fintech phenomenon from the perspective of the major stakeholders (i.e., financial authorities, financial companies, IT firms) in South Korea. This study analyzed news articles, where those stakeholders expressed their arguments, by using a content analysis. The study also conducted an intensive examination of their arguments by using a core–periphery approach of social representations. This study found that while the three beholders had a common opinion on deregulation of the fintech industry, each of them had different knowledge of the phenomenon. By revealing each beholder’s structure of representations of fintech, this study not only provides common knowledge regarding fintech but also explicates the perceptual gaps among stakeholders. Findings of the study offer a big picture of current fintech initiatives, which can be useful knowledge for future research on fintech.

The article summarises the advanced world experience in government regulation of the automotive industry using the example of the leading automotive manufacturing countries – China, Japan, India, South Korea, the USA, and the European Union. Leading approach to the study of this problem is the comparative method that has afforded revealing peculiarities of the primary measures applied by governments of the world to regulate the automotive industry have been identified. A unified model for government regulation of the automotive industry has been elaborated. The presented model contains a set of measures for government support for the automotive industry depending on the life cycle stage (inception, growth, stabilisation, top position, stagnation, decline, crisis) of the automotive industry and the level (high, medium, low) of competitiveness of automotive enterprises.

The Effects of Seoul’s Industrial Site Regulations on Surrounding Regions manufacturing location

Background/Objectives: This study explores the subjective perceptions of stakeholders in South Korea’s nature-based healing industry and employs Q methodology to classify their viewpoints. As the healing industry continues to evolve across sectors such as forest therapy, marine healing, and healing agriculture, understanding diverse stakeholder perspectives is essential for informing coherent and inclusive policy development. Methods: A total of 25 participants—including policymakers, practitioners, and service users—sorted 39 statements derived from academic and media sources. This study analysed the data using Ken-Q software, applying principal component analysis with Varimax rotation. Results: The results revealed four distinct perception types: (1) a comprehensive and service-oriented type emphasising universal access and public benefit, (2) a professionalism-oriented type advocating for systematic administration and regional development, (3) a differentiation-oriented type concerned with conceptual clarity and distinctiveness, and (4) a sustainability-oriented type emphasising long-term impacts and collaborative structures. Conclusions: These findings highlight the multi-dimensional nature of stakeholder perceptions and suggest the need for differentiated governance strategies. By incorporating public choice theory and complementary insights from health economics, this study provides an empirical foundation for understanding stakeholder-driven policy considerations in developing nature-based healing services.

Due to global interest in the improvement of national income and quality of life, eco-labeled food (ELF) for sustainable consumption and personal healthcare has been increasing. This study aims to contribute to two research streams by examining the quality of ELF in forests (ELFF). First, this study intends to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) of ELFF producers for the certification verified by the government-supported institution and investigate the difference in certification costs between the actual certificating authority and ELFF producers. Second, this study aims to figure out the perception mechanism of how consumers who would like to purchase ELFFs recognize the effect of enhanced certification. These efforts may contribute to the research on how to raise interest in the production of ELF-related products and sustainable consumption. To achieve the purpose of this study, we adopted contingent valuation methods (CVM) to measure WTPs using interview-based surveys with 40 ELF producers and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to examine the effect of certification with 112 consumers who experienced ELF consumption. Results of this study provide theoretical and practical implications by looking at the relationship between ELF certification and sustainable consumption from a stakeholder’s perspective. This study intends to expand the research field of ELF from agriculture to forestry products. It provides a basis for providing practical implications for policymakers who propose sustainable consumption.

The EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KOREU) is the first free trade agreement (FTA) the EU concluded with a trading partner from Asia. Beyond the comprehensive liberalization of industrial and agricultural tariffs, KOREU covered a broad range of behind-the-border measures, such as rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, industrial regulation, intellectual property rights, services, public procurement, competition and sustainability. Coming into force in July 2011, Europe’s deep recession at that time initially put a strain on the agreement, which led to some disappointment in Korea at first. Nevertheless, bilateral trade expanded significantly in a very difficult trade environment, especially when compared with both sides’ trade with third parties. Beyond the stimulation of trade and investment, KOREU generated various merits for both sides of the agreement. The EU was able to assert its industrial regulatory standards and establish itself firmly as an attractive, albeit demanding, trade policy actor in Asia. Korea undertook a regulatory modernization and positioned itself as a frontrunner in international trade liberalization, as FTAs with the US and China, its two other heavyweight trade partners followed suit. In parallel to the expansion of trade and investment, the bilateral political relations were strengthened, too.