Q. Why can I use non-face-to-face telemedicine services from a Korean medicine clinic in Guro or Gangseo-gu in Seoul?

The background for non-face-to-face telemedicine being possible is that, since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ministry of Health and Welfare temporarily permitted telemedicine, and it has been extended under certain conditions until now. Thus, Korean medicine clinics can consult and prescribe through video platforms. In Western medicine, this focuses mainly on symptom history and adjusting existing prescriptions—useful for checking the progress of previously diagnosed conditions or monitoring side effects. From a Korean medicine perspective, our diagnostic method is the 'Four Examinations' (observation, auscultation-olfaction, inquiry, and palpation), among which inquiry (問診) holds the greatest weight. By listening to detailed symptoms, dietary habits, sleep, and digestion, and reviewing photos or videos, we can to some extent perform pattern differentiation (辨證, bianzheng) such as spleen deficiency (脾虛, biheo) or phlegm-fluid (痰飮, dameum). However, pulse diagnosis (脈診, maekjin) and abdominal diagnosis (腹診, bokjin) require direct palpation, so telemedicine has limitations. I initially had doubts whether telemedicine could provide accurate diagnoses, but after practice, I found that inquiry alone can yield substantial information. Still, if I feel that an in-person exam is essential, I honestly explain and recommend a visit. The advantages of telemedicine are that consultations are not constrained by time or location, and prescribed herbal medicines can be delivered to your home. The disadvantages are that accurate diagnosis may ultimately require an in-person visit, and emergencies or acute conditions are difficult to manage remotely. Therefore, at our Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, we recommend the first consultation be conducted in person whenever possible, and then use telemedicine for follow-up monitoring or medication adjustments. While telemedicine is not suitable for all cases, it can be a very useful tool when applied appropriately.