Vice Chairman Lee Kyuho of Kolon Proposes APEC Future Healthcare Roadmap

Serving as BHWG Chair, Completing a Joint Roadmap
Presenting Seven Key Strategies Combining AI, Data, and Biotech
Official Discussion Scheduled at the Gyeongju APEC Summit

The Biohealthcare Working Group (BHWG) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC), chaired by Lee Kyuho, Vice Chairman of Kolon Group, has finalized the "Smart and Inclusive Healthcare Roadmap" to be submitted to the leaders of each member economy. It is considered an exceptional case for a Korean private company to play a leading role in shaping the APEC health agenda.

Kolon Group announced on the 27th that, at the 4th ABAC meeting held in Busan, the BHWG formulated a joint healthcare roadmap to address complex challenges in the APEC region, such as population aging, chronic diseases, and health disparities. Vice Chairman Lee, who has been serving as the inaugural chair of the newly established BHWG this year, led the discussions, focusing on four key areas: accelerating biotech innovation, connecting health networks, closing inclusive health gaps, and fostering public-private partnerships.

Lee Kyuho, Vice Chairman of Kolon Group, is delivering a welcome speech at the 4th meeting of the 2025 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) held in Busan on the 26th. Vice Chairman Lee has been serving as the chair of the newly established ABAC Biohealthcare Working Group (BHWG) this year. Provided by Kolon Group

The meeting, held at Ananti Cove in Busan, was attended by more than 20 global healthcare and bio experts, including Ted Chang, Chief Technology Officer of Quanta Computer from Taiwan; Jun Suzuki, Special Advisor of Daiichi Sankyo from Japan; and Monica Whaley, President of the US APEC Center. The participants consolidated discussions from three previous ABAC meetings held this year in Brisbane, Australia; Toronto, Canada; and Haiphong, Vietnam, as well as the APEC High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy in September, and approved the healthcare roadmap led by Korea.

The roadmap consists of seven strategic pillars: evidence-based policy development utilizing health data, expansion of precision medicine through biotechnology, enhancement of medical efficiency via artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening supply chain resilience, securing sustainable health financing, addressing the brain health crisis, and improving access to healthcare. The plan includes short-term (1-3 years), mid-term (3-7 years), and long-term (7-15 years) implementation schedules. The related agenda is also set to be discussed at the upcoming APEC Summit to be held in Gyeongju on the 31st.

Vice Chairman Lee stated, "To address the issue of population aging in the APEC region, healthcare should be seen not as a cost to be contained, but as a strategic investment for the future," adding, "We must build a sustainable and resilient healthcare system through digital innovation and enhanced inclusivity." He further emphasized, "Ongoing dialogue with health policymakers in each country is crucial after the completion of the roadmap," and expressed his expectation that "this discussion will serve as a catalyst for even stronger healthcare cooperation within APEC."

Kolon Group is expanding its global healthcare business based on its capabilities in developing new biopharmaceuticals. Its flagship pipeline, TG-C, a cell and gene therapy for osteoarthritis, completed dosing of patients in a US Phase 3 clinical trial last year. The company plans to apply for product approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2027.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.