Minister Chung Eun-kyung: "Carrying on the Legacy of the Late Director-General Lee Jong-wook to Advance Global Health Equity"

Korean Delegation to Attend the 79th World Health Assembly

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on May 17 that a delegation representing the Government of the Republic of Korea, led by Minister Chung Eun-kyung, will attend the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO), to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 18 to 21.

Scenes from the 78th World Health Assembly held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 19 to 27 of last year. WHO

This year’s assembly will be held under the theme “Reimagining Global Health and Shared Responsibility,” with delegations from the health ministries of 194 member states, as well as international organizations and civil society. The agenda will broadly cover the WHO’s four main areas: ▲ health promotion, ▲ health service delivery, ▲ health protection, and ▲ capacity building and performance.

In her keynote address, Minister Chung will introduce the Korean government’s major official development assistance (ODA) initiatives in the health sector, including the WHO Global Bio Workforce Training Hub, the Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program, and the establishment of a Global AI Hub. She will also express Korea’s commitment to actively contributing to the achievement of global health equity.

On May 20, Minister Chung will attend a memorial ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the passing of Dr. Lee Jong-wook, the first Korean to lead an international organization and the sixth Director-General of the WHO. This memorial is organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, and co-hosted by the health ministries of six countries: Korea, China, Ethiopia, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.

Before the memorial, Minister Chung will also attend the reopening ceremony of the “Lee Jong-wook Strategic Situation Room,” another legacy of the late Dr. Lee. This event will be joined by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO; health ministers from the co-hosting countries; and Mrs. Reiko, Dr. Lee’s surviving spouse.

Additionally, during the assembly, Minister Chung plans to hold bilateral meetings with the health ministers of key member states, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Ukraine, to discuss a wide range of topics, such as: ▲ signing and renewing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) for healthcare cooperation, ▲ AI-based primary healthcare collaboration, and ▲ training programs for medical professionals.

Meanwhile, the government delegation will also participate in the 44th Program, Budget and Administration Committee (PBAC) meeting, held from May 13 to 15, and the 159th Executive Board (EB) meeting scheduled for May 26 to 27, in addition to the assembly. At detailed meetings covering topics such as ▲ comprehensive health promotion including rehabilitation, well-being, and social connection, ▲ healthcare strategies to achieve universal health coverage, ▲ health crisis response, and ▲ reform of the WHO’s budget, finance, and operational systems, the Korean delegation will present the country’s positions and exchange views with other member states.

Minister Chung stated, “This year’s WHO Assembly is particularly meaningful as it marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of former Director-General Lee Jong-wook. In facing the pressing task of reimagining global health, Korea will continue Dr. Lee’s legacy and actively contribute to the achievement of global health equity.”

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