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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) imposed substantial health and social burdens worldwide, disrupting healthcare delivery and challenging public health governance. Korea's early, coordinated response was associated with low mortality and maintained essential services, yet the prolonged pandemic exposed structural inequalities, workforce strain, and psychosocial impacts. To comprehensively understand these multidimensional effects, this review synthesizes systematic and narrative evidence on the clinical, epidemiologic, and societal consequences of COVID-19 in Korea. We conducted a combined systematic and narrative review of Korean evidence (2020-2025). The systematic review included studies from PubMed, Embase, KoreaMed, and KMbase, supplemented by manual journal searches. Eligible studies addressed key epidemiologic indicators, including seroprevalence, mortality among patients with comorbidities, severe outcomes in high-risk groups, and vaccination coverage by comorbidity. Quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. We additionally examined government white papers, national reports, policy briefs, and peer-reviewed articles to contextualize epidemiologic findings, synthesizing materials across health burden, healthcare system changes, social consequences, and policy responses. Twenty-four epidemiologic studies and 72 narrative sources were included. Seroprevalence remained below 1% during the early pandemic, increasing sharply after omicron's emergence. Patients with chronic illnesses consistently experienced higher risks of severe outcomes and mortality, while high-risk groups showed elevated odds of intensive care use and complications. Alongside clinical patterns, national data documented substantial reductions in outpatient visits, elective procedures, emergency care, and pediatric services. Burnout and psychological distress intensified among healthcare workers, while prolonged distancing and economic disruption contributed to widening social fatigue. Policy responses and vaccination improved population outcomes, although gaps persisted in communication strategies and addressing disparities across age, socioeconomic status, and comorbidity groups. Korea's experience underscores that preparedness must align clinical efficiency with social equity. Strengthening primary and emergency care, ensuring fair compensation and workforce protection, and maintaining transparent risk communication are essential for building a resilient, inclusive public health system to withstand future pandemics.