earticle

영어

This study aimed at analyzing the policy paradigm change of medical tourism policy by applying the policy network model and the policy paradigm change model. For this purpose, the literature review examined medical tourism policy, policy paradigm change model, and policy network model. As a research method, case studies method and big data analysis of newspaper articles were applied. The analysis result shows that Korea's medical tourism policy is in the transitional stage of paradigm shift. Since 2000, medical tourism policy began under the economic growth paradigm. Since 2010, the transition to wellness tourism has been insisted on, and the market diversification and restoration of confidence paradigm has emerged as a competitive paradigm. The global economic downturn and the opening of the medical market played a big role in the emergence of these two paradigms. In addition, formal policy actors played a leading role in policy changes. However, it was confirmed that the third order change suggested by Hall(1993) in the policy change model, that is, the fundamental change in policy purpose and policy means did not occur. Therefore, Korea's medical tourism policy is in a period of competition in which the existing economic growth, job creation paradigm, and new trust paradigm are competing.