Korea to Add Colonoscopy to National Cancer Screening by 2028
A Korean health news feature centers on a warning from Gangneung Asan Hospital’s Health and Medical Center director, Hong Jong-sam, that preventive health decisions should follow medical testing rather than rely on self-assessment. The discussion sits within Korea’s tense crossover of health technology and public health policy, where the public increasingly accesses health information online and via smart devices.
The piece highlights a concept gaining attention in 2026 called Health Quotient (HQ), defined as the ability to understand one’s health status, search for information, and interpret data to manage health. While digital tools have made health information more accessible, experts caution that this does not automatically translate into preventive actions.
A National Cancer Center survey on cancer-screening behavior found that the top reason people skip screenings is the belief that they are healthy (43.4%), followed by lack of time (17.4%) and perceived difficulty of tests (16.7%). The data illustrate a gap between perceived health and recommended preventive care, even as screening programs exist.
According to the National Health Insurance Service, Korea’s national cancer screening rate in 2025 was 58.3%. Within the program, colon cancer screening remains among the least utilized, with participation in the 40% range for adults aged 50 and over. The report places colon cancer screening below other major cancers in uptake, despite its high incidence.
Colon cancer is often asymptomatic in early stages, making screening critical. When symptoms do appear, they can include blood in stool, a feeling of incomplete evacuation, changes in stool width, dark stools, digestive issues, fatigue, and abdominal pain. The location of the cancer can influence symptoms, with right-sided cancers more likely to cause anemia or abdominal complaints and left-sided cancers more likely to cause changes in bowel habits or visible bleeding.
Hong emphasizes that cancers diagnosed after symptoms typically reflect more advanced disease, underscoring the need for routine screening before symptoms arise. He notes that colonoscopy offers not only detection but also treatment opportunities, since polyps can be removed during the procedure, potentially preventing cancer.
The national policy is shifting to strengthen colon cancer prevention. Korea’s government is planning to include colonoscopy in the national cancer screening program starting in 2028, recognizing that most colon cancers originate from adenomatous polyps. The removal of these polyps during colonoscopy can reduce the risk of developing colon cancer by as much as 90%, and early-stage colon cancer has a five-year survival rate of over 90% in many cases.
The report also points to rising colon cancer incidence among younger adults in Korea. Data from international studies show higher incidence in the 20–49 age group in Korea compared with a broad international sample. Risk factors such as family history, obesity, smoking, and alcohol use are noted, with recommendations that high-risk individuals begin proactive screening around age 40.
Beyond Korea, the story matters for U.S. readers because it highlights the tension between abundant health information and adherence to preventive services, the economics of expanding screening programs, and the capacity needs for colonoscopy services and related technologies. The Korea case illustrates how health policy shifts, insurer coverage decisions, and advances in endoscopic treatment intersect with public expectations, workforce needs, and supply chains for diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. It also underscores the potential impact on multinational health markets and comparative policy discussions about optimal starting ages and methods for cancer screening.