Lee meets with WHO chief to discuss cooperation in healthcare

President Lee Jae Myung met with World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday to discuss healthcare cooperation. Lee called for South Korea to expand its international contributions and cooperation with the WHO on health security, and asked Tedros to help more highly skilled South Koreans contribute to the organization. Tedros welcomed South Korea’s efforts and expressed hope for greater cooperation in AI and biotechnology. They also discussed international coordination to prevent and respond to infectious diseases.

Tedros was visiting Seoul to attend the World Bio Summit 2026, which the WHO is hosting with South Korea on Wednesday and Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Kim Sung-wan said Lee noted that South Korea had changed from a recipient of international assistance into a major contributor.

Tedros said he was familiar with South Korea’s development experience and stressed the importance of equitable international cooperation in artificial intelligence.

Lee expressed hope that Seoul would continue expanding cooperation with the WHO in health security.

Published Oct 22, 2026 12:20 am KST

President Lee Jae Myung, right, shakes hands with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus prior to their meeting on Wednesday in this photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung met with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in healthcare, Lee's office said.

The meeting at Cheong Wa Dae came as Tedros is visiting Seoul to attend the World Bio Summit 2026, which WHO is hosting in partnership with South Korea on Wednesday and Thursday.

During the meeting, Lee stressed the need for South Korea to expand its role and contributions to the international community, presidential spokesperson Kim Sung-wan said in a written briefing.

Lee also expressed hope that Seoul would continue to expand its cooperation with WHO in health security.

The president asked Tedros to help ensure that more highly skilled South Koreans could contribute to the WHO, noting that South Korea has transformed itself from a recipient of international assistance into a major contributor.

Tedros thanked South Korea for its efforts to strengthen cooperation with WHO and promote global health, saying he was well aware of the country's development experience.

Stressing the importance of equitable international cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), Tedros expressed hope for expanded cooperation with South Korea in AI and biotechnology.

The two sides also exchanged views on international coordination to prevent and respond to infectious diseases.

韩国总统李在明周三在青瓦台会见了世界卫生组织总干事谭德塞，双方就医疗卫生领域的合作进行了讨论。李在明呼吁韩国扩大在卫生安全领域与世卫组织的国际合作，并请求谭德塞帮助更多高技能的韩国人才为世卫组织做出贡献。谭德塞对韩国的努力表示欢迎，并希望在人工智能和生物技术领域加强合作。双方还讨论了在预防和应对传染病方面开展国际协调的议题。

谭德塞此次访问首尔是为了出席世界卫生组织与韩国于周三和周四共同主办的2026年世界生物峰会。

总统发言人金成完表示，李显龙指出，韩国已经从国际援助的接受国转变为主要援助国。

谭德塞表示，他熟悉韩国的发展经验，并强调了在人工智能领域开展公平国际合作的重要性。

李表示希望首尔能够继续扩大与世界卫生组织在卫生安全领域的合作。

发布于2026年10月22日凌晨12:20（韩国标准时间）

这张由青瓦台提供的照片显示，韩国总统李在明（右）在周三会见世界卫生组织总干事谭德塞之前与其握手。（韩联社）

李在明总统办公室表示，李在明总统周三会见了世界卫生组织总干事谭德塞，讨论如何加强在医疗卫生领域的合作。

谭德塞此次在青瓦台会晤正值他访问首尔，出席世界卫生组织与韩国合作举办的2026年世界生物峰会之际，峰会将于周三和周四举行。

总统发言人金成完在一份书面简报中表示，李明博在会晤中强调了韩国需要扩大其在国际社会中的作用和贡献。

李还表示希望首尔继续扩大与世卫组织在卫生安全领域的合作。

总统要求谭德塞帮助确保更多高技能的韩国人能够为世界卫生组织做出贡献，并指出韩国已经从国际援助的接受国转变为主要贡献国。

谭德塞感谢韩国为加强与世卫组织的合作、促进全球健康所做的努力，并表示他非常了解韩国的发展经验。

谭德塞强调了在人工智能领域开展公平国际合作的重要性，并表示希望扩大与韩国在人工智能和生物技术领域的合作。

双方还就预防和应对传染病的国际协调交换了意见。