Abstract

The number of papers on health inequalities in South Korea has exploded over the past 20 years. However, given that the ultimate role of research is to improve health inequalities, it is hard to argue that the quantitative growth of research has made a significant contribution. In this article, I would like to critically look back on the progress of health inequalities research in Korea and make a proposal to overcome the severance of knowledge translation. First of all, the question of health inequality research should be changed from 'Is there health inequality across socioeconomic groups?' to 'Why/How does health inequality develop across socioeconomic groups?' Second, it is necessary to take an epistemology relevant to research questions rather than giving exclusive priority to specific epistemology, especially positivism. Third, in order to fully understand the process of social determinants of health being embodied in the human body and mind, it is necessary to revive an academic community in which researchers from various disciplines can cooperate and have a discussion about social reality