The Ministry of Health and Welfare will host "Medical Korea 2026" at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from the 19th to the 22nd. With some officials from Middle Eastern countries who were scheduled to attend dropping out due to the aftermath of the war, the government said it expects no major impact on the overall operation of the event, including key bilateral cooperation schedules.
Medical Korea began in 2010 and marks its 16th edition this year. It is a venue where global healthcare experts discuss industry trends and policy directions and seek international cooperation.
This year's theme is "global healthcare opened by artificial intelligence (AI)," with the main discussions focusing on changes in the medical industry driven by the spread of AI and response strategies.
During the event, a total of eight sessions will be held on topics including ▲ AI-based healthcare ▲ overseas expansion of medical services ▲ anti-aging and regenerative medicine ▲ medical tourism. Forty-six speakers from Korea and abroad will share outlooks on diagnosis and treatment, medical productivity, and changes in industrial structure.
For the opening keynote, Edward Marx, CEO of Marx Advisory, who led IT innovation at institutions including Cleveland Clinic in the United States, will speak. Jeong Eun-young, director general of the Health Industry Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will also give a presentation on the global competitiveness of Korean healthcare and policy directions.
During the event, business meetings will also be held in a one-on-one matching format between overseas patient-sending corporations and domestic medical institutions. The sessions aim to attract foreign patients and foster cooperation for overseas expansion of medical services.
At last year's event, 45 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed and five contracts worth about $3.17 million were concluded through 667 consultations. This year, 38 buyers from 19 countries, including the United States, Japan, and Kazakhstan, and about 220 domestic medical institutions and corporations are expected to participate.
However, due to the recent war involving the United States and Israel with Iran, attendance by some Middle Eastern officials has been canceled. An official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "Some officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar will be absent," adding, "We do not expect an impact on other high-level bilateral meetings."
A business roundtable will also be held with Ukraine and the state of Utah in the United States during the event. Discussions with Ukraine will cover cooperation on rehabilitation medicine and medical technology education related to postwar reconstruction, while talks with Utah will address biohealth policy and strategies for Korean corporations to enter the U.S. market.
High-level bilateral meetings will also be held with Mongolia and Ukraine. With Mongolia, discussions will include government-funded patient dispatch, medical staff training, and cooperation in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, with an agreement signing also planned.
At the COEX venue, zones will be set up for the K-medical service industry, certified institutions for attracting foreign patients, and global medical partners. Thirty-nine institutions, including Asan Medical Center and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, will participate.
The event will also include government awards for institutions and individuals who contributed to overseas expansion of medical services and attracting foreign patients. The presidential commendation will go to Wonkwang University Hospital and Hanyang University International Hospital. A total of 22 commendations will be presented, including three prime minister's commendations and 17 minister of Health and Welfare commendations.