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- Original article Current status and demand projections for occupational and environmental medicine specialists: focus on special health examinations and outsourced occupational health management services
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Hye-Eun Lee1,2
, Hee-Tae Kang3
, Mo-Yeol Kang4
, Chungwon Kang5
, Kyong sok Shin6
, Hyeon-Taek Heo7
, Yong Lim Won8
, Jungwon Kim9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e23 [Accepted]
Published online: July 1, 2026
1Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
2Institute of Social Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
3Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
4Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
5Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hanil General Hospital, Seoul, Korea
6Sojunghan Industrial Health Institute Corp., Seoul, Korea
7Health Examination Bureau, Korean Industrial Health Association, Daejeon, Korea
8Quality Assurance and Analysis Department, Occupational Safety and Research Institute, Ulsan, Korea
9Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
2Institute of Social Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
3Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
4Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
5Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hanil General Hospital, Seoul, Korea
6Sojunghan Industrial Health Institute Corp., Seoul, Korea
7Health Examination Bureau, Korean Industrial Health Association, Daejeon, Korea
8Quality Assurance and Analysis Department, Occupational Safety and Research Institute, Ulsan, Korea
9Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
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Corresponding author:
Hye-Eun Lee, Tel: 033-248-2663,
Email: heunlee@hallym.ac.kr
Received: 24 February 2026 • Revised: 23 June 2026 • Accepted: 24 June 2026
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Abstract
Background
Occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) specialists are key personnel within the occupational health system. Recent developments, such as the introduction of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the expansion of occupational health policies targeting vulnerable workers, have highlighted the need to broaden the role of OEM specialists. This study analyzed the current workload of OEM specialists and projected their medium- to long-term demand.
Methods
The demand for OEM specialists was defined as the actual observed service utilization volume under the current legal, institutional, and policy environment. Key work areas were categorized as special health examinations and outsourced occupational health management services. Data sources included administrative records from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL), statistics on worker health examination results, and evaluation data from specialized agencies for occupational health management. Demand through 2035 was projected by applying the observed historical growth trend in service utilization. The required number of specialists was calculated by applying the average workload per specialist in the base year.
Results
As of 2025, 577 OEM specialists were working at 255 special health examination institutions. Among the 153 occupational health management agencies, 265 physicians were employed, including 133 OEM specialists. The number of workers requiring services from OEM specialists is predicted to continue growing. Applying the current average workload per physician, an additional 132 special health examination physicians and 92 occupational health management agency physicians will be needed by 2035.
Conclusions
Actual workforce demand may differ from the projections presented in this study depending on changes in policies, industrial structure, service delivery models, and work efficiency. Future studies should incorporate need-based estimates that reflect the diverse roles of OEM specialists and use integrated workforce data to provide more refined projections.
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