Understanding reasons for unmet health care needs in Korea: what are health policy implications?

As unmet health care needs are considered to be a critical indicator of a country's health care system, it is crucial to identify and eliminate any obstacles that prevent access to health care services. Under the current universal health care system in Korea, women, particularly those of lower income and lower educational levels, have limited access to necessary health care services. A gender-specific health care plan is recommended to reduce the higher rate of unmet needs experienced by this group. To reduce accessibility-related unmet needs, increasing available services for younger age groups, reflecting their needs of health services, needs to be considered.