Personal health record (PHR) in the private sector: Current status and challenges, using Kakao Healthcare’s Pasta and KareChat as examples

Personal health record connects fragmented health information with everyday health management. This narrative review examines private sector implementation in Korea using Kakao Healthcare’s Pasta and KareChat as examples. Academic literature, government and standards documents, and public service descriptions available up to September 11, 2026, were reviewed. Pasta links continuous glucose measurements with lifestyle records and clinician reports, whereas KareChat integrates hospital services and medication information through a familiar messaging platform. These cases illustrate complementary approaches to using personal health records for self-management and healthcare access. Sustaining such approaches requires interoperable data and workflows, accountable information governance, defined clinical responsibilities, appropriate reimbursement, and viable business models. Clinical outcomes, workload, costs, continued use, and equity require evaluation beyond service uptake. Coordinated public infrastructure and private service development can support patient-centered care when accompanied by evidence of safety, effectiveness, and sustainable operation.