Background: Non-face-to-face consultation, which ensures physical distance between patients and doctors, is increasing as a substitute mode for dealing with highly infectious diseases. Korea, with its remarkable Information and Communications Technology infrastructure, introduced telemedicine in 1988, yet it has not been formally accepted owing to stakeholders' resistance and legal restrictions. Purpose: This study aims to determine the feasibility of implementing the telemedicine system and find solutions of its development and resistance by stakeholders. Method and Material: The authors present a unique case of Korea where telemedicine, despite its solid technological base, has not yet gained a foothold 32 years after its first pilot project. A narrative review was condected according to the timeline of government-driven telemedicine adoption in Korea, and an analysis was performed on the tendency of stakeholder resistance. Results: The analysis revealed that the relevant stakeholders were classified into doctors, patients, governments and some political parties. Among stakeholders as a whole, private healthcare physicians, who provide over 90% of primary care in Korea, amount to the largest demographic against the implementation of telemedicine. Their resistance was found to be the product of policies and problems arising from the coexistence of telemedicine and conventional healthcare regimes. With the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers are at odds with these stakeholders while implementing a pilot project. Conclusion: Fostering smooth policy implementation necessitates adopting an approach that reduces conflicts with private healthcare providers.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the associations between depression and both coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRs) in Korean women. Furthermore, this study sought to determine whether depression was associated with use of healthcare services in women with CAD or CVRs.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 26,335 women who were aged 19 years or older, and who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2014). Associations of prior diagnosis of depression with CAD and CVRs and with nonutilization of healthcare services were investigated.ResultsWomen with depression had a higher prevalence of CAD and CVRs including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome than those without depression. In addition, depression was significantly associated with nonutilization of healthcare services in women with most CVRs.ConclusionConsidering the high rate of comorbid depression with CAD or CVRs and the low lvels of health service utilization in depressed patients, screening for common CVRs, such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, should be provided for patients with depression in mental health care settings.