This study examines the burden of disease in Korea from 2008 to 2020, using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to measure health levels and trends. The total DALYs per 100,000 population increased by 13.8% from 2008 to 2020, reaching 25,439 in 2020. Diabetes mellitus was the leading cause of DALYs, followed by low back pain and ischemic stroke. A sex-specific gap reversal was observed, with men's disease burden surpassing women's starting in 2017. Variations in disease burden were also identified across 250 regions and income quintiles. The study highlights the importance of addressing diseases with increasing burdens and subgroups experiencing high disease burdens to improve healthcare policies and achieve health equity.This study examines the burden of disease in Korea from 2008 to 2020, using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to measure health levels and trends. The total DALYs per 100,000 population increased by 13.8% from 2008 to 2020, reaching 25,439 in 2020. Diabetes mellitus was the leading cause of DALYs, followed by low back pain and ischemic stroke. A sex-specific gap reversal was observed, with men's disease burden surpassing women's starting in 2017. Variations in disease burden were also identified across 250 regions and income quintiles. The study highlights the importance of addressing diseases with increasing burdens and subgroups experiencing high disease burdens to improve healthcare policies and achieve health equity.