"Eighty-five percent of patients' demand for medical consultations is an area artificial intelligence (AI) can solve. The issue is not technology but the leadership and regulatory overhaul to back it."
At Medical Korea 2026, which opened on the 19th at COEX in Seoul, the theme was the "disruptive innovation" AI will bring and the "practical constraints" lurking behind it. Edward Marx, CEO of Marx Advisory and the keynote speaker, made clear that AI is a game changer that will reshape the landscape of health care. He said, "The medical ecosystem is changing rapidly, with new drug development that used to take an average of 18 years now shortened to a few years," while noting, "Even in the United States, excessive regulation often hinders innovation," emphasizing the role of governance in each country.
◇Government declares an "AI highway" buildout… data sharing will decide success or failure
The government also unveiled a plan to reform the public health care system using AI. Minister Jung Eun-kyeong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in congratulatory remarks, announced a plan to migrate information systems at national and public hospitals to the cloud and to build a "public health care AI highway." The idea is to build integrated national bio big data on a scale of 1 million people to support the development of AI medical technology.
But the outlook is not all rosy. On the ground, there are calls to resolve the long-standing challenges of integrating fragmented data and protecting personal information first. Kim Yun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "For AI technology to translate into real benefits, a legal framework for data use and protection must be in place," adding that "easing the expense burden by incorporating it into the health insurance system is key."
◇"AI is not everything"… caution on the ground is no less strong
Voices warning against AI omnipotence were also heard in the afternoon session. Hyun Cheol-su, a professor at Yale University, argued that an "inter-physician trust network" becomes even more important in the AI era. The fundamental question of who bears clinical responsibility in cross-border care is not something technology alone can resolve.
Practical risk management also came under scrutiny. Kim Tae-han, executive director at HDI Hong Kong, mentioned the need to develop insurance products that disperse risks that can arise when treating the surging number of foreign patients. Kim Jin-a, a consultant at APEX Healthcare, called for a strategic approach centered on centers of excellence (CoE), going beyond simple patient attraction, to enter the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) market, which will grow to $159 billion in 2029.
◇Regenerative medicine and anti-aging: new growth engine or a bubble
In the regenerative medicine and anti-aging session, cited as a future growth engine, a premium strategy combining stem cell therapy with K-beauty was introduced. Oh Han-jin, head of center at ID Hospital, and Kim Sun-man, director of Amilang Clinic, presented trends in cancer treatment using stem cells and personalized care, but analysis held that success again hinges on whether the pace of regulatory improvement by the government can keep up with the industry's steps. Kim Yong-min, Head of Team at the Regenerative Medicine Promotion Foundation, shared the recently implemented amended law and the government's policy status and explained efforts to supplement the system.
Cha Sun-do, president of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), said, "Health care has now become a core industry that creates added value," and called for public-private cooperation. The event, launched with the tasks of Korea's digital transformation in health care and expanding its overseas reach, will continue through the 22nd with various programs, including forums and business meetings.