Perspectives from the new president of the Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: future strategies for occupational and environmental medicine.

Abstract

Modern Korean society is experiencing fundamental transformations in industrial structures and working environments driven by complex factors, including demographic shifts, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and digital transformation. The evolving dynamics between the manufacturing and service industries, the emergence of technology-driven sectors, and the proliferation of new occupational categories are reshaping traditional employment models. This has directed the labor market toward nonstandard employment forms, including temporary, contract-based, and platform labor. Consequently, issues such as employment instability and reduced accessibility to workplace health programs, including occupational safety training, health examinations, and workplace health management, have become increasingly prominent. Although occupational and environmental medicine has subsequently gained significance, the current occupational health and safety framework inadequately addresses the nuances of emerging labor forms. Legal gaps persist, leaving vulnerable groups such as nonregular workers, platform laborers, and older workers insufficiently protected under existing systems. Furthermore, systemic issues are evident in the inadequate follow-up care during occupational health examinations, lacking continued adherence to hazard-centric approaches, and insufficient attention to chronic diseases and mental health challenges. This study proposes strategies that occupational and environmental medicine can address these issues. First, legal and institutional reforms must encompass new labor forms, accompanied by modernized safety and health guidelines. Second, state-of-the-art technologies should be leveraged to enhance predictive disease management and personalized healthcare for workers. Third, a preventive approach integrating chronic disease management, mental healthcare, and psychosocial risk factors must be established. Fourth, fostering interdisciplinary research collaboration across medicine, engineering, and psychology is essential for developing practical solutions to emerging challenges. In conclusion, occupational and environmental medicine in Korea must adapt to effectively address the evolving labor landscape. Through systematic innovation, integrated health-management approaches, technological advancements, and interdisciplinary cooperation, the health and safety of all workers in the rapidly changing world can be ensured.