The private organization, Korean Global Health Coalition (K-GHC), was established to strengthen Korea's leadership in global health and expand domestic industry participation and opportunities. The inaugural chairperson is Won Hee-mok, a professor at Seoul National University and an advisor to the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association.
K-GHC has set the vision of being the 'top professional private organization contributing to the exercise of Korea's global health leadership.' The coalition's charter specifies establishing a virtuous cycle structure for global health Official Development Assistance (ODA), the biohealth sector, and fostering related industries as its main mission.
At the founding general meeting of the coalition held at the end of November, Won Hee-mok from Seoul National University and an advisor to the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association was elected as the inaugural chairperson, while former Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol was elected as the auditor.
Additionally, Kim Sang-hee, former Vice Speaker of the National Assembly; Park Soo-hyun, Country Director for the Gates Foundation in Korea; Baek Kyung-ran, former Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency; Baek Young-ok, CEO of Ubiologics; Sam Anshel, Global Aid Policy Director at Open Philanthropy Foundation; Seong Baek-rin, head of Vaccine Commercialization Technology Development; Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience; Yoo Je-man, CEO of Shinpoong Pharmaceutical; Lee Jae-guk, Vice President of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association; Lee Hyo-geun, CEO of SD Biosensor; Jerome Kim, Secretary General of the International Vaccine Institute; Cho Hyun, former Ambassador to the United Nations; and Han Hee-jung, Director of International Health Advocacy, were elected as board members.
Along with an operational committee chaired by the chairperson, two additional committees, the ODA Committee and the Industry Committee, will be established to perform key tasks. Joo In-sook, a senior advisor at ASG, has been appointed as the Secretary General, overseeing the secretariat.
Chairperson Won Hee-mok noted, 'The coalition will be a collaborative platform for private sector experts in global health from various fields, uniting efforts to contribute to sustainable global health improvement.' He also said, 'We will accelerate domestic corporations' entry into overseas public procurement markets alongside the expansion of government support for global health ODA.'