South Korea's Lee meets WHO chief Tedros on health security and AI
President Lee Jae Myung and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus discussed health cooperation, biotechnology and infectious-disease coordination during Tedros's visit to Seoul.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on October 21 to discuss closer cooperation on health security, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and infectious-disease response, Yonhap News Agency reported. The meeting put South Korea's proposed wider role in global health on the agenda during Tedros's visit for the World Bio Summit 2026.
Lee seeks a larger South Korean role at the WHO
Lee said South Korea should expand its contributions to the international community and continue strengthening its cooperation with the WHO on health security, according to a written briefing from presidential spokesperson Kim Sung-wan reported by Yonhap. He also asked Tedros to help more highly skilled South Koreans contribute to the organisation.
In making that request, Lee pointed to South Korea's shift from a recipient of international assistance to a major contributor, according to the briefing. Tedros thanked the country for its work with the WHO and its efforts to promote global health. Yonhap reported that he also acknowledged South Korea's development experience.
Tedros stressed the importance of equitable international cooperation on AI and expressed hope for broader work with South Korea on AI and biotechnology, Yonhap reported. The two leaders also exchanged views on how countries could coordinate to prevent and respond to infectious diseases. The account described talks and stated aims; it did not announce a specific agreement or timetable for new work.
World Bio Summit brings Tedros to Seoul
The meeting took place alongside the World Bio Summit, which the WHO and South Korea are hosting on October 21 and 22. The Korea Herald reported ahead of the talks that this was Tedros's first official visit to South Korea since taking office. The summit gave the two sides a setting to discuss health cooperation while Tedros was in Seoul.
Before the meeting, The Korea Herald reported that Lee planned to present his government's San Francisco AI Declaration and AI Basic Healthcare Strategy. It also reported that he was expected to seek coordination aimed at extending the benefits of advanced health technology to vulnerable nations and citizens. Those were plans described before the talks, rather than confirmed outcomes of the meeting.
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Sources and context
- (LEAD) Lee meets with WHO chief to discuss cooperation in healthcareYonhap News Agency
- President Lee to meet WHO chief, discuss AI-based healthcare strategyThe Korea Herald
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.