earticle

영어

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the development of medical science has been mainly focused and achieved in a complete recovery of a disease. Nevertheless, every year increasing number of people are dying due to such incurable diseases as cancer and AIDS which still cannot be handled with the modern medical science.
To meet such needs of the contemporary times, it is no doubt that hospice establishes itself as an alternative for taking care of terminal patients with professionalism and efficiency. The religious groups are greatly interested in hospice to the extent that they can be regarded as the very driving force of advancing contemporary hospice in Korea.
However, among various religious groups, buddhism still shows the least enthusiasm in looking after terminal patients.
This paper examines the actual status of Korean hospice by exploring its current position. Also, it explains the reasons contemporary buddhism hospice shows lack of enthusiasm compared to other religions. Lastly, it further suggests a few tasks to develop and activate terminal care in buddhism.