Medical care for persons of distinguished service to the state and to independence who contributed to the nation and the people, as well as for those who participated in overseas missions to defend world peace and freedom, and rehabilitation and welfare support for the severely injured, should be continued at a higher level and in a more diverse manner as part of national development and from a broader national policy perspective.

To carry out these initiatives, the Korea Veterans Welfare Corporation was established on November 2, 1981, through the enactment and enforcement of the Korean Veterans Welfare Corporation Act. This integrated previously separate entities, the National Veterans Hospital, the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center, and the Veterans Organizations Support Association, which had been performing related functions independently.

Subsequently, on January 1, 1985, the organization was renamed the Korea Veterans Welfare Corporation. Since January 1, 1999, it has operated the Veterans Education and Research Institute, providing national spirit education and social adaptation training for persons of distinguished service to the state and discharged veterans. On January 16, 2001, the organization’s name was changed to the Korea Veterans Health Service (under the revised legal title, the Korea Veterans Health Service Act), which remains its official designation today.