Korea to add lung function test to national health screening for ages 55-66

Starting next year, lung function tests will be added to the national health screening for people aged 55 to 66.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Thursday that it held the First National Health Screening Committee Meeting of 2025 and deliberated and approved the “Plan for New Introduction of Lung Function Tests” and the “Plan to Strengthen Post-Screening Management for Dyslipidemia and Diabetes.”

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major chronic respiratory disease with a high prevalence rate of 12 percent. However, awareness of the disease is low at 2.3 percent, and it often presents with few symptoms in its early stages, raising the need for early detection through its inclusion in national screening programs.

Accordingly, the committee approved the plan for introducing new lung function tests. Starting next year, citizens aged between 56 and 66 will receive lung function tests alongside their national health screenings.

The inclusion of lung function tests in national health screenings is expected to contribute to the prevention of severe COPD by linking early detection with follow-up management systems, such as providing smoking cessation services and health management programs, the ministry said.

Additionally, the committee resolved to add the HbA1c test for diagnosing dyslipidemia and diabetes to the list of items exempt from copayment after screening, to strengthen the linkage between screening and treatment. Currently, individuals suspected of having hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis C, depression, or early psychosis based on their health screening results are exempt from copayments for consultation and test fees during their first visit to a medical institution after screening.

The ministry also reported on the upcoming ‘Fourth National Health Screening Comprehensive Plan” to be established in 2026. This plan must be formulated every five years based on the Framework Act on Health Screening and is currently operating under the third plan established in 2021.

The ministry has been conducting research since July this year to establish the fourth comprehensive plan, reviewing past implementation outcomes and limitations while reflecting changes in the screening environment. It reported that the fourth comprehensive plan will focus on reforming the evidence-based health screening system, strengthening screenings tailored to life stages, and enhancing post-screening management.

Additionally, regarding the reform plan for chest X-rays—an existing item confirmed to lack sufficient medical/scientific evidence and have low test effectiveness—it was decided to hold the Second National Health Screening Committee in November to discuss the matter.

“We will focus our efforts on increasing the healthy life expectancy of all citizens through the National Health Screening System, a crucial pillar for preventive health management, by enabling early disease detection, post-screening management, and lifestyle improvements,” Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Hyung-hoon said.

The matters decided at this committee meeting are scheduled to be implemented starting January 2026, following subsequent work, including system revisions and amendments, to relevant ordinances during the latter half of this year.