Global Leaders Gather to Share Medical Advancements for All
A blueprint has been presented for boldly investing in innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology to address the regional essential medical care gaps and various health issues facing the Republic of Korea, and to share these on a global scale.
On Sept. 17, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO) held the World Bio Summit 2025 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul to discuss ways to ensure that the achievements of medical innovation can be shared by all of humanity.
The event, now in its fourth iteration, has established itself as a platform for discussing global health agendas. This year's summit brought together 1,000 global bio leaders including health ministers and vice ministers from various countries, heads of international organizations, representatives of global vaccine and biotech companies, and academic experts. Unlike the initial focus on overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s summit concentrated on core future medical agendas such as medical AI, healthy aging and biocluster innovation.
In particular, this summit, held in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Health and Economy High-Level Meeting, emphasized the theme "From Innovation to Access: Medical Innovation for All," stressing that advanced technologies should not be limited to a few countries but should spread as universal benefits to all people worldwide.
In her opening address, Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong said, “The Republic of Korea is facing various health issues, including a shortage of essential medical care in regional areas,” adding, “The Korean government is responding to this by transitioning to a sustainable healthcare system while boldly investing in innovative technologies such as AI and biotechnology to find solutions.” She further emphasized, “It’s important to consider who will actually benefit from innovation and how,” stating, “The fruits of medical innovation should not be limited to just a few countries, but should become universal benefits enjoyed by all of humanity.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in his video opening address, positively evaluated Korea’s establishment of a biopharmaceutical education hub and mRNA technology transfer program, expressing hope that this meeting would lead to expanded public-private cooperation and strengthened local production capacity.
National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Park Ju-min of the Democratic Party of Korea also emphasized that medical innovation is not a privilege for specific groups but a right that all of humanity should enjoy, stressing the need to expand accessibility through legal and institutional foundations and international cooperation.