Minister Cho KyooHong of South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW) recently participated in two significant regional health meetings: the 2nd Korea-ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting and the 10th ASEAN Plus Three (Korea, Japan, China) Health Ministers Meeting. These consecutive meetings focused on enhancing regional health security and advancing public health through digital health initiatives.
The meetings, held under the theme “Transforming ASEAN Health Development Resilience in a New Context,” provided a platform for participants to share their policy experiences and discuss collaborative strategies for improving health outcomes across the region.
During the Korea-ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting, Minister Cho underscored the critical role of digital technology in adapting to the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. He pointed out the dual challenges of global aging and emerging public health crises, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to healthcare. Minister Cho proposed a vision for future cooperation that capitalizes on South Korea’s expertise in digital health. He announced that the MoHW intends to assist ASEAN member states in enhancing their healthcare systems by formulating an “ASEAN Health Sector Digital Transformation Strategy” aligned with this vision.
At the ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Meeting, Minister Cho elaborated on South Korea’s ongoing efforts to bolster health security in the region. He highlighted key initiatives, such as the operation of the WHO Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing, the strengthening of infectious disease response capabilities, and the promotion of digital health cooperation to tackle cross-border health emergencies in the post-pandemic era. Minister Cho also advocated for broadening the scope of cooperation to include emerging health issues, such as mental health promotion and the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
These discussions reflect South Korea’s commitment to working closely with ASEAN and its Plus Three partners to create a resilient and digitally empowered healthcare environment in the region.
