Author(s) :

Siwoo Jeong.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

The public health systems of South Korea and the United States developed under different historical, political, and cultural factors, which have produced distinct strengths and weaknesses during health crises. The research examined the system structures, pandemic responses, and long-term health outcomes of both countries from 1918 to the present, using historical case studies and policy analysis. South Korea achieved quick insurance expansion and effective pandemic management through centralized governance, collectivist culture, and its post-MERS reforms, which led to high public compliance. The United States adopted a decentralized, market-based system based on individualism, which resulted in delayed coordination and elevated COVID-19 death rates, despite its higher healthcare expenditures. The research demonstrated that emergency preparedness depends equally on governance structure, cultural values, and public trust as it does on funding and technology. The study recommended that the United States should improve its national coordination systems and that Korea should enhance equity in the hospital sector while implementing reforms that balance efficiency with inclusivity. The study of how historical and cultural elements shape public health systems offered valuable insights to strengthen crisis readiness for future global health emergencies.