Inauguration Speech

July 22, 2025

Minister of Health and Welfare

Dear colleagues of the Ministry of Health and Welfare,

It is an honor and privilege to greet you today as the first Minister of Health and Welfare under the Lee Jae Myung administration. Along with great joy, I feel a profound sense of duty and responsibility.

You have long served as dedicated guardians of the health and welfare of our people.

I know how tirelessly you have worked to improve the quality of life for all citizens, faithfully fulfilling your responsibilities despite the seemingly endless challenges we have faced, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the ongoing conflicts between the government and medical community.

Today, as a fellow citizen of the Republic of Korea,

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your unwavering commitment and hard work.

Our nation now stands at a crossroads, facing serious crises and critical challenges.

The slowing pace of economic growth, widening social polarization, rapidly changing demographics, and evolving technologies such as AI are fundamentally transforming the policy landscape.

At the same time, our Ministry has an extremely long list of issues to deal with. The government-medical community conflict has not been resolved, and regional, essential, and public healthcare systems are under strain. The demand for care services continues to rise in our rapidly aging society, and the country’s elderly poverty and suicide rates are still some of the highest in the world.

To overcome these crises and build “a Korea where everyone can prosper together,” we must, now more than ever, focus on the Ministry’s core mission: strengthening the social safety net and promoting the health of our people.

To that end, I will work hand in hand with you to actively pursue the following priorities.

First, we will build a comprehensive and seamless social safety net.

We will gradually expand child allowance, improve the fundamentals of our National Pension and Basic Pension schemes, and engage in other measures to establish income security that protects citizens across every stage of life, from childhood to seniority.

We will reinforce the Basic Livelihood Program as the final safety net for those in need, and expand sickness benefits to ensure everyone has the right to “rest when ill.”

To address social isolation, we will create tailored support systems for groups such as young people and middle-aged adults.

We will also use big data to proactively identify households in crisis and make welfare services more accessible and user-friendly, so that no one is left behind.

Second, we will strengthen the state’s responsibility for care.

We will expand integrated support services that combine medicine, long-term care, and home care services nationwide, enabling seniors and others facing difficulties in daily life to remain healthy in their own homes.

We will gradually expand the scope of long-term care hospital services covered by the National Health Insurance, increasing public responsibility for patient care.

We will strengthen early detection and intervention for children with developmental disabilities, while expanding tailored services such as daytime activity programs for people with developmental disabilities and public job programs for people with disabilities.

We will also enhance support for young people facing family caregiving burdens or social isolation. We will ensure that the state-led adoption system is firmly established, prioritizing the best interests and rights of children.

Third, we will build a healthcare system centered on the people.

Through healthcare reforms focused on the needs of the people—reforms that both the public and the medical community can support—we will ensure timely access to medical services while safeguarding the sustainability of the healthcare system.

We will establish a Healthcare Workforce Supply and Demand Estimation Committee to provide scientific projections on the appropriate size of the workforce.

We will secure stable staffing for regional, essential, and public healthcare services and provide fair compensation for their work.

We will transfer the operations of national university hospitals to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, positioning them as control towers for public and essential healthcare within their respective regions.

We will institutionalize telemedicine services in a way that ensures both patient safety and convenience.

We will strengthen community-based primary healthcare systems and ease the financial burden on patients with rare and intractable diseases.

We will also reinforce suicide prevention policies by identifying high-risk groups early on,

improving intervention efforts, and expanding support for those who have attempted suicide,

as well as strengthening overall suicide prevention efforts

Fourth, we will lay the groundwork for Korea’s advancement as a global leader in health and welfare.

To help Korea become a powerhouse in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, we will expand governmental investments in K-Bio and vaccine funds and continue to strengthen healthcare R&D efforts.

To build an AI-based system for innovation-driven growth in digital healthcare, we will support the safe use of healthcare data and establish a full-cycle training system for physician-scientists.

As we undertake the first National Pension reform in 18 years, we will enhance its effectiveness by actively engaging in and supporting discussions at the National Assembly’s Special Committee on National Pension Reform, including efforts to build a multi-pillar retirement income security system.

In response to the growing elderly population, we will continue to expand public job opportunities for seniors. We will also strengthen psychological and emotional support for infertile couples and pregnant women, and continue to subsidize fertility testing costs.

Dear colleagues of the Ministry of Health and Welfare,

I would like to ask for your commitment to improving how we work and shaping a healthier organizational culture.

Let us work with a vision and a shared sense of duty.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare exists to safeguard the very foundation of life—health and welfare. Before asking, “How should I do this?” let us always reflect deeply on, “Why am I doing this?”

Let us keep our hearts and minds open as we make policy decisions.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is responsible for policies that significantly impact people’s lives. Our work is complex and often fraught with conflicts among diverse stakeholders.

Let us build trust through communication with the National Assembly, various experts, and stakeholders, and always listen closely to the voices from the field.

Let us work together to build an organization where we care for one another.

The greater the challenges we face, the more important it is for our organization to put people first.

We will inevitably encounter difficult situations more often than not, be it daunting workloads or harsh external criticism.

However, we cannot bring happiness to the people unless we ourselves find happiness in our work. As we tackle the pressing challenges before us, let us work together to foster a culture of mutual respect and care within our organization.

Let us work more efficiently.

Let us strive to find more efficient and democratic ways to conduct meetings, carry out tasks, and make decisions.

I will do my utmost to improve how we work in the ministry so that you can achieve the best possible outcomes.

Lastly, let us create a workplace where we can work with pride and confidence.

Before I assumed this office, I heard from many people that morale within the Ministry had declined. I am well aware of the fatigue and frustration that can build up as you deal with urgent issues and handle countless tasks.

I will ensure that your efforts are fairly recognized and rewarded, and that understaffed departments receive the additional support they need.

I will devote myself to creating an environment where you can do your work without being drained by fatigue.

As your Minister, I will seek ways to ensure your happiness, just as much as I strive to ensure the happiness of the people we serve.

Thank you.

July 22, 2025

Jeong Eun Kyeong, Minister of Health and Welfare