Trends and Contextual Factors Related to Obesity-Related Legislation in the Republic of Korea (2006-2024)

The objective of this paper is to analyse trends in obesity-related legislation in the Republic of Korea (2006-2024) and examine political, institutional, and ideational factors observed in relation to legislative outcomes.

A retrospective policy analysis of 53 obesity-related bills identified through systematic searches of the National Assembly Legislative Information System and independently coded by two researchers. Quantitative trends were examined by policy domain and instrument type, and qualitative analysis applied Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework, the Ideas-Interests-Institutions (3I) model, and Policy Instrument Theory.

Legislative attention increased unevenly across the study period. Sixteen bills (30.2%) achieved a favorable legislative outcome, comprising direct passage or incorporation into an enacted committee alternative. Regulatory instruments dominated, followed by educational and institutional tools; fiscal measures were rare. Legislative activity clustered in 2013 and 2017-2019, while later proposals increasingly addressed school, digital, and post-pandemic concerns.

Korea's experience shows both progress and fragmentation in obesity governance. Child-focused framing and institutional feasibility were recurrent features among enacted measures, whereas fiscal and structural proposals were less frequently enacted. The findings highlight the importance of considering regulatory, educational, and fiscal approaches within a comprehensive intersectoral policy framework.