Current status and prospects of oral health services exchange from South and North Korea through nongovernmental organizations

Han,  Dong-Hun; Shin,  Teo-Jeon; Myoung,  Hoon; Lee,  Seung-pyo; Kim,  Chong-Chul

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 53(10); 2015 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2015;53(10):705-711.
Published online October 31, 2015.

비정부기구를 통한 남북한 구강보건의료 교류의 현황과 전망

한동헌¹, 신터전², 명훈³, 이승표⁴, 김종철⁵

^¹서울대학교 치의학대학원 예방치학교실
^²서울대학교 치의학대학원 소아치과학교실
^³서울대학교 치의학대학원 구강악안면외과학교실
^⁴서울대학교 치의학대학원 구강해부학교실
^⁵서울대학교 치의학대학원 소아치과학교실

Current status and prospects of oral health services exchange from South and North Korea through nongovernmental organizations

Dong-Hun Han¹, Teo-Jeon Shin², Hoon Myoung³, Seung-pyo Lee⁴, Chong-Chul Kim⁵

¹Department of Preventive and Social Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University
²Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University
³Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University
⁴Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University
⁵Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University

Abstract

South Korea's oral health care non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a crucial role in South-North relations, although a formal intergovernmental relationship is difficult to establish and also easily breaks down. Humanitarian assistance by NGOs in the oral health care sector is an area that receives wide support from South Korean society for its urgency and for its appeal to humanity. This humanitarian assistance started in the late 1990's and continued to grow until the late 2000's. This assistance continued throughout the tension between the two administrations that resulted in a radical decrease in overall assistance from South Korea to North Korea. However, concerns remain about the transparency and efficiency of NGO activities. In this article, the NGOs and their major activities are delineated, and South Korean legislation is examined. A current act, the Law on the Development of South and North Korean Relations serves as a basis for governmental regulation and support of NGO's. Humanitarian assistance in the oral healthcare area is directly related to the oral health of the North Korean people, and it should not be influenced by political changes. Long-term planning and close discussions between NGOs, their North Korean counterparts, and the South Korean government are needed. NGOs need to overcome their shortcomings such as a lack of expertise and shortage of financial support. For this, NGOs must improve their administration transparency and professionalism.

Key Words: Humanitarian assistance;Non-governmental organizations;Democratic People°phis Republic of Korea;Republic of Korea;Oral healthcare;