[2025 Good Brain] 'Digital Therapeutics' to Become a New Breakthrough in Brain Health Management

Severe Shortage of Psychiatrists:
"Active Adoption of Digital Therapeutics Is the Solution"
"Motivation Matters More Than Digital Literacy"

There is growing anticipation that digital therapeutics (DTx) could become a new breakthrough in managing and treating mental health issues.

Jaehun Kang, President of the Korean Society of Digital Therapeutics and Director of the Department of Family Medicine at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, emphasized at the "2025 Good Brain Conference" hosted by Asia Economy at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, on September 3, that "the number of psychiatrists in Korea is severely lacking compared to the OECD average, resulting in longer patient wait times and widening treatment gaps. DTx offers a viable alternative to address this shortfall."

The panel discussion on "Digital Healthcare and Brain Health" was moderated by President Kang and featured Sungji Kang, CEO of Welt; Kyungnam Kim, CEO of Weisen; and Geonseok Lee, Professor of Psychiatry at Hanyang University Hospital. The panel focused on the current status and potential of DTx in Korea.

On September 3, 2025, at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, panelists are discussing the topic "Protecting Mental Health through Digital Means" at the "2025 Good Brain Conference" hosted by Asia Economy. From left to right: Jaehun Kang, President of the Korean Society of Digital Therapeutics; Sungji Kang, CEO of Welt; Kyungnam Kim, CEO of Weisen; Geonseok Lee, Professor of Psychiatry at Hanyang University Hospital. Photo by Jinhyung Kang.

Severe Shortage of Psychiatrists..."Active Adoption of Digital Therapeutics Is the Solution"

Professor Lee shared the challenges faced in clinical practice. "Yesterday alone, I treated 103 patients. While first-time consultations are allotted 30 minutes, I can barely spend a few minutes with returning patients," he said. "If there were applications offering lifestyle monitoring and self-management features, we could observe patients' lives more closely outside the hospital and enhance treatment outcomes."

CEO Kang introduced DTx as a solution to address the imbalance between medical demand and supply. Welt's insomnia treatment app, "SleepQ," recently began being prescribed in Korea. He explained, "The app goes beyond simple sleep diaries by analyzing data such as lifestyle habits, payment records, and weather to provide personalized therapeutic content. In the future, artificial intelligence (AI) will serve as a 'digital intern,' supporting patients 24 hours a day."

He also highlighted the importance of institutional support, referencing the example of Germany. CEO Kang noted, "In Germany, over 50 DTx are prescribed, and they have been used in more than 900,000 cases. The system is designed to encourage innovation by providing DTx to patients free of charge initially, and if the effectiveness is not proven within a year, the company must refund the costs."

CEO Kim introduced a digital solution for treating panic disorder. He explained, "Early intervention in panic disorder leads to high cure rates, but delayed treatment can result in chronic conditions and complications such as depression and anxiety. Our product analyzes patients' lifestyle patterns in real time to detect warning signs and uses AI-based personalized behavioral interventions to prevent attacks."

Weisen offers a multi-layered program tailored to patient needs, including "care services" (preventive monitoring), "training services" (digital cognitive behavioral therapy), and "companion services" (response to panic attacks). CEO Kim stated, "We plan to obtain approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety within this year and launch Korea's second DTx for panic disorder."

"Motivation Matters More Than Digital Literacy"

The discussion also raised concerns that the level of digital literacy among patients and doctors could hinder DTx adoption. In response, Professor Lee Geonseok emphasized, "The core issue is motivation, not literacy. Although using an app may be more cumbersome than medication, if an environment is created where patients are motivated and can receive ongoing feedback, DTx can be highly effective."

CEO Kang added, "In Germany, the process for patients to learn how to use the app is actually simple. Patients take a photo of their paper prescription and submit it to the health insurance corporation, and a code is issued immediately. We also need systems and environments that enhance usability and motivation, rather than complex procedures."

On September 3, 2025, at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, panelists are discussing the topic "Protecting Mental Health through Digital Means" at the "2025 Good Brain Conference" hosted by Asia Economy. From left to right: Jaehun Kang, President of the Korean Society of Digital Therapeutics; Sungji Kang, CEO of Welt; Kyungnam Kim, CEO of Weisen; Geonseok Lee, Professor of Psychiatry at Hanyang University Hospital. Photo by Jinhyung Kang.

Beyond mental illnesses, DTx is expected to expand into areas such as insomnia, anxiety, and addiction. Professor Lee said, "DTx has a distinct advantage in areas where lifestyle improvement is more crucial than medication. It is optimized for assessment and ongoing coaching rather than treatment itself."

During the Q&A, an audience member asked whether ethical issues such as privacy protection, stigma, and accessibility disparities could arise in the process of prescribing and using DTx. Professor Lee answered, "The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's security guidelines are extremely strict, so technical safety is ensured. In fact, DTx can serve as a tool to reduce stigma."