This study measures the burden of disease in Korea using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 2008 to 2020. The total burden of disease in 2020 was estimated at 25,439 DALYs per 100,000 population, a 13.8% increase since 2008. Leading causes of DALYs included diabetes mellitus, low back pain, and ischemic stroke. A sex-specific gap reversal was observed, with men's disease burden surpassing women's starting in 2017. Disease burden varied across 250 regions and income quintiles. The study highlights the need for health policies that prioritize diseases with increasing burdens and subgroups with high disease burdens. The findings are expected to inform healthcare policies aimed at improving health levels and achieving health equity in Korea. The study used the Korean National Burden of Disease (KNBD) methodology, incorporating data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and other sources. The study also addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease burden, noting a decrease in YLLs and an increase in YLDs in 2020. The study found that diabetes mellitus remained the leading cause of disease burden in 2020, with a significant increase in YLDs. The study also identified a widening disparity in health levels based on income, with a 1.40-fold difference in disease burden between the lowest and highest income quintiles. The study concluded that further research is needed to improve the methodology for calculating YLDs and to address the limitations of the study, such as the exclusion of COVID-19 DALYs and the potential underestimation of disease burden relying on over-the-counter drugs or low medical utilization rates. The study provides valuable insights into the burden of disease in Korea, considering regional disparities and income inequality. The findings suggest the need for targeted health management for individuals in the lowest income bracket and for improving health equity through region-specific policies. The study also highlights the importance of addressing health risk factors such as smoking, drinking, and lack of physical activity to guide priority setting in health promotion efforts.This study measures the burden of disease in Korea using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 2008 to 2020. The total burden of disease in 2020 was estimated at 25,439 DALYs per 100,000 population, a 13.8% increase since 2008. Leading causes of DALYs included diabetes mellitus, low back pain, and ischemic stroke. A sex-specific gap reversal was observed, with men's disease burden surpassing women's starting in 2017. Disease burden varied across 250 regions and income quintiles. The study highlights the need for health policies that prioritize diseases with increasing burdens and subgroups with high disease burdens. The findings are expected to inform healthcare policies aimed at improving health levels and achieving health equity in Korea. The study used the Korean National Burden of Disease (KNBD) methodology, incorporating data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and other sources. The study also addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease burden, noting a decrease in YLLs and an increase in YLDs in 2020. The study found that diabetes mellitus remained the leading cause of disease burden in 2020, with a significant increase in YLDs. The study also identified a widening disparity in health levels based on income, with a 1.40-fold difference in disease burden between the lowest and highest income quintiles. The study concluded that further research is needed to improve the methodology for calculating YLDs and to address the limitations of the study, such as the exclusion of COVID-19 DALYs and the potential underestimation of disease burden relying on over-the-counter drugs or low medical utilization rates. The study provides valuable insights into the burden of disease in Korea, considering regional disparities and income inequality. The findings suggest the need for targeted health management for individuals in the lowest income bracket and for improving health equity through region-specific policies. The study also highlights the importance of addressing health risk factors such as smoking, drinking, and lack of physical activity to guide priority setting in health promotion efforts.