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May 15, 2026Korean Journal of Medical HistoryOpen Access

The Making of the Mental Health System in South Korea, 1960s–1980s: The Rise of Institutionalization and the Unfulfilled Promise of Community Mental Health

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KYKihoon You

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Overview

Historical analysis reveals systemic barriers to community mental health in South Korea's psychiatric practices.

Key Points

  • This article aims to explore the historical development of South Korea's mental health system from the 1960s to 1980s, focusing on institutionalization and missed opportunities for community care.
  • Reexamined debates and interactions among state, psychiatric professionals, and civil society regarding the Mental Health Act during 1960s-1980s.
  • Analyzed the impact of the 1983 gidowon scandal on public perceptions and community mental health initiatives.
  • Explored legislative developments and their alignment with state interests and civil society movements.
  • Rapid expansion of psychiatric institutions occurred in South Korea from the 1960s to 1980s, contrary to Western deinstitutionalization efforts.
  • The Mental Health Act of 1985 reinforced an admission-centered system, focusing on psychiatric hospitals despite community health initiatives.
  • Civil society's push for human rights did not significantly change the confinement-centered mental health system.

Cite This Study

Kihoon You (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a06b998e7dec685947ac641https://doi.org/10.13081/kjmh.2026.35.151
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