Press Releases
Ministry of Health and Welfare
Jan 30,2026
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong) and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan) announced that a Korean government delegation will attend the 158th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Monday, February 2, to Saturday, February 7.
The Executive Board brings together representatives from 34 WHO Member States to review and exchange views on agenda items to be discussed at the World Health Assembly scheduled for May. Ahead of the Executive Board, the 43rd session of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee (PBAC)―which conducts a preliminary review of administrative matters such as the budget, organizational structure, and human resources―will be held from Wednesday, January 28, to Friday, January 30.
At the Executive Board, MOHW Vice Minister Lee Hyung-hoon will serve as Head of the Korean Delegation, while Director General Lim Ho-geun of the Ministry’s Office for Planning and Coordination will serve as Head of Delegation* to the PBAC. The delegation―comprising officials from the MOHW, the KDCA, and expert advisors―will actively participate in agenda discussions. In addition to the formal sessions, the delegation plans to hold bilateral meetings with Australia, which currently chairs the Executive Board, as well as with the WHO Deputy Director-General, to further discuss key health policy issues.
* The WHO Executive Board elects a limited number of Executive Board members allocated across WHO’s six regions. Korea was elected as the representative of the Western Pacific Region and will serve a three-year term from May 2024 to May 2027.
* The PBAC selects two countries per region from among Executive Board members, and Korea will serve a two-year term from May 2024 to May 2026.
On the first day of the Executive Board meeting, Monday, February 2, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will present a report on key achievements in 2024 and 2025 and future priorities. This will be followed by reports from committees of the Executive Board* and discussions on major developments and plans related to noncommunicable diseases, mental health, and infectious diseases, including tuberculosis treatment and immunization.
* The Programme, Budget and Administration Committee and the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response.
On the second and third days, Tuesday, February 3, and Wednesday, February 4, discussions will be organized around three thematic areas: health service delivery, health protection, and health promotion. Under health service delivery, participants will examine the current status and future directions of strengthening universal health coverage, expanding primary health care, digital health, and antimicrobial resistance. Under health protection, the WHO Secretariat will report on its activities related to health emergencies, followed by exchanges of views among Member States. Under health promotion, discussions will focus on improving social connectedness, as well as maternal, infant, and child nutrition.
From the fourth day to the final day, Thursday, February 5, to Saturday, February 7, the Executive Board will conduct an in-depth review of WHO’s administration and discuss measures to improve operational efficiency. As the meeting coincides with ongoing WHO budget cuts and organizational restructuring, the Korean delegation plans to actively present its views to strengthen Korea’s leadership and presence in global health.
Vice Minister Lee Hyung-hoon stated, “In the evolving global health environment following the pandemic, the role of the WHO has become increasingly important, even as the Organization faces significant financial constraints. As Korea takes on this important responsibility as a member of the Executive Board, we will work closely with the WHO to advance global health and further enhance Korea’s profile in global health diplomacy.”
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