한국에서 의료 전문직의 개념과 논의

There are high dissatisfactions and crisis perceptions about socioeconomic status of physicians among Korean physicians. Determining which is profession distinguished from general occupations is not easy, meanwhile theoretical and systematic knowledge, professional ethics and society, service-oriented trait and high job autonomy are general characteristics of profession. considering these characteristics, Physicians are typical profession in Korea.

There are two different perspectives about physician as a profession. First is structural functionalism. In this perspective, medical knowledge itself implies the legitimation of medical profession and its social status. In contrast, social status of medical profession is determined by the way how medical knowledge is constructed socially rather medical knowledge itself in perspective of confliction theory.

High job pride and low ethical consciousness, sensitivity for group interest and insufficient social contact skill, confusion about job identity and anxiety for the future are current situation of Korean physicians roughly.

Nowadays, reflective education about society and medicine, humanistic training for understanding of human and medicine is required in training of physicians in medical school.

One reason to discuss about medical professionalism is to get trust from general citizens and to have a rational status of medical profession through it. This can not be achist d by short-term remedies, but is a long term work can be done by reflections and efforts of all medical doctors. Therefore, the issue of medical professionalism should be pursued and discussed thoroughly and the future of Korean physicians status would be influenced deeply by these activities.