WHO and South Korea convened their second strategic health dialogue in Seoul, aligning global health priorities and planning enhanced cooperation.

WHO and South Korea held their second strategic health dialogue in Seoul on Aug. 28‑29, aligning priorities for global health cooperation.

Dialogue details

The delegations convened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters for a two‑day session that produced an alignment of priorities, the organizations reported.

Leadership and participants

Dr. Catharina Boehme, Assistant Director‑General for External Relations and Governance, led the WHO delegation. Dr. Hye‑Jin Kim, Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, headed the South Korean side.

The WHO team included senior officials from headquarters, regional offices and country offices. The Korean delegation featured Dr. Young‑Mee Jee, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Outcomes and next steps

The meeting resulted in enhanced collaboration plans, the delegations said. Participants also met with Members of the National Assembly who champion the global health agenda.

Historical partnership

The partnership spans more than 75 years, evolving from a donor‑recipient relationship to Korea becoming a donor nation and a leader in global health.

Key points agreed

• Joint investment in health system strengthening
• Coordinated response to emerging infectious diseases
• Shared data platforms for real‑time surveillance

Both sides agreed to hold the next strategic dialogue in 2026, pending confirmation of venue and dates.