Use of Korean Medicine Among Disaster Survivors in South Korea: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies

Background: Disasters inflict physical, psychological, and social burdens on survivors. While Korean medicine (KM) has shown potential in crisis response, it is not integrated into South Korea's national disaster medical system. This study, the first in Korea, systematically reviewed the clinical evidence for KM interventions for disaster survivors.Methods: Bibliographic databases were used (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and RISS) to search for South Korean clinical studies, of any design, evaluating KM interventions (e.g., acupuncture, herbal medicine) delivered by licensed KM doctors. Methodological quality was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Quality Assessment Tool. Due to high heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively.Results: Seven studies (4 cohorts, 1 case series, 2 case reports) covered disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sewol Ferry disaster, and the Pohang earthquake. The methodological quality of the cohort studies was generally low (lacking control groups), while case studies were stronger. Studies reported improvements in psychological outcomes (e.g., PTSD, depression) and physical symptoms (e.g., pain, COVID-19 symptoms). KM telemedicine emerged as an accessible and efficient delivery model. No serious adverse events were noted.Conclusion: This review suggests KM may be a beneficial and safe option for managing survivors' physical and psychological symptoms using integrative medicine. However, the evidence is preliminary and limited by the small number, methodological weaknesses, and high heterogeneity of studies. These findings provide foundational evidence to support integrating KM into conventional medicine in the national disaster response system, but further rigorous research is needed to confirm these findings.