In 1949, when the Republic of Korea joined the World Health Organization, the country was still rebuilding from war and depended on outside help. Today, more than 75 years later, South Korea sits across the table from WHO as an equal partner and leader in global health. That transformation took center stage at a major meeting in Seoul last August.
WHO and South Korea held their second Strategic Dialogue on August 28-29, 2024. For two days, officials from both sides met to strengthen their partnership and plan how to tackle health challenges together. The meeting brought together leaders from across government agencies and the WHO's offices around the world.
Dr. Catharina Boehme, WHO's Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Governance, led the international organization's team. On the Korean side, Dr. Hye-Jin Kim, Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, headed the delegation. Other key participants included Dr. Young-Mee Jee, who heads the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
The WHO team also made time to meet with Members of South Korea's National Assembly who are working to advance global health issues. This reflects WHO's broader effort to build relationships with lawmakers who can help push health initiatives forward in their own countries.
The milestone relationship between these two partners stretches back to 1949. Over more than seven and a half decades, South Korea has shifted from a country that received international health aid to one that provides it. This journey reflects how developing nations can grow into global leaders when they invest in health and education.
The two-day talks in Seoul resulted in a shared set of priorities that will guide future collaboration. Both sides left the meeting with clearer plans for working together on everything from disease prevention to health system strengthening. WHO officials say this kind of strategic dialogue helps ensure that partnerships between international organizations and individual countries remain strong and focused.
The meeting also featured a discussion around WHO's Investment Case report, which outlines why countries should support the organization's global health work. Officials held up the report as a symbol of their shared commitment to building a healthier world.