보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Korea Nominated as Member of

World Health Organization(WHO) Executive Board

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Cho, KyooHong) announced at the 74th Session of the WHO (World Health Organization) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (hereinafter the “Regional Committee”) convened in Manila, Philippines from October 16 to 20 that Korea has been nominated as one of the two WHO Executive Board members* whose tenure begins in May 2024.

* If any of the 5 WHO Executive Board members for the Western Pacific has its term expired, that year’s regional committee nominates the next WHO Executive Board member and confirms appointments at the World Health Assembly in May of the following year.

WHO Executive Board is composed of a total of 34 member states (3-year terms)* among which 5 states, namely Japan, Malaysia, China, Micronesia, and Australia are currently serving for the Western Pacific region.

* Terms of serving on the Executive Board for the Western Pacific as of October 2023: Japan (May '21-'24), Malaysia (May '21-'24), China (May '22-'25), Micronesia (May '22-'25), Australia (May ‘23-'26)’

The Executive Board member state designates one health field expert as the executive director, who participates in regular Executive Board meetings (twice each year in January and May).

* Former Executive Directors appointed from Korea: former Commissioner Lee Yong-seung of the Central Public Health Center ('60-'63), former Director Lee Seong-woo of the Korea National Institute of Health ('84-'87), and former Director Shin Young-soo, PhD of WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific ('95-'98), former Director Eom Young-jin of the Ministry of Health and Welfare ('01-'04), former Director Son Myeong-se of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service ('07-'10), and former Assistant Minister Jeon Man-bok of the Ministry of Health and Welfare ('01-'04). '13-'16), former Food and Drug Safety Minister Kim Gang-lip ('20-23')

Lee Hoyul, MOHW Director General for International Cooperation, who participated in this year’s regional committee as the head of delegation, said, “We proudly accept our nomination to the WHO Executive Board to answer the call of the international community for Korea to keep contributing and offering advise to the WHO as a representative of the Western Pacific in responding to pending issues and instituting strategies in the future.”

He added, “We will devote our best efforts to faithfully fulfill the role as a member of WHO Executive Board to guarantee the universal right to health for all people, including those in the Western Pacific region, by pursuing thorough preparations and responses to future health crises.” ///