The state of arts and health in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

Background: The field of arts and health has been growing rapidly in the Republic of Korea (ROK) as a means to solve social problems with the development of arts and health government programs to prevent mental disorders and improve quality of life. This study addresses the history, policy and funding scale, practices, and challenges of the arts and health in the ROK and provides a global overview of different countries to guide development procedures and communicate directions to relevant stakeholders. Methods: Data were collected using various methods, including policy reports, grey literature, peer-reviewed articles, and open data provided by Statistics Korea. Results: Progress has been made in identifying specific opportunities for the arts to address mental health concerns in the Korean society. Specialty and digital arts are emerging as new professional practices in the arts and health fields. Conclusions: Establishing new government agencies is the next challenge toward identifying and reaching a consensus among relevant stakeholders for the future development of arts and health in the ROK.