Korea’s position in Figure 3.8 indicates that it is at the high end of the distribution of potential years of life lost though not significantly above the average overall. The trend data for admissions for COPD, hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes and longterm diabetic complications indicate an increase in the volume of admissions over the past five years. Among OECD countries, Korea has almost the longest average length of stay for all the chronic conditions mentioned in this report and worryingly the trend in length of stay has risen sharply in recent years. In terms of potential years of life lost for chronic conditions amenable to preventive action, Korea is not significantly above the average for OECD countries. However it is at the high end of the distribution and given that the full effects of epidemiological transition from ageing and rising chronic diseases are yet to be felt, and will be compounded by an under developed primary care system, it is most likely a matter of time before the number of premature years of life lost for chronic conditions reach the outlier level. Community health care infrastructure is skewed towards institutions that are defined by - and often seeking to add - beds, and provide outpatient primary care services.