South Korea nominated as member of WHO’s executive board

It was voted as one of the two WHO executive board members which begins May 2024.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Cho, KyooHong) declared that South Korea has been nominated as one of the two WHO Executive Board members, which starts in May 2024.

“If any of the 5 WHO Executive Board members for the Western Pacific has its term expired, that year’s regional committee nominates the next WHO Executive Board member and confirms appointments at the World Health Assembly in May of the following year,” read the statement.

WHO Executive Board is comprised of over 34 member states (three-year terms) amongst which five states, namely Japan, Malaysia, China, Micronesia, and Australia are currently serving the Western Pacific region.

The Executive Board member state assigns one health field expert as the executive director, who participates in regular Executive Board meetings (twice each year in January and May).

Former Executive Directors appointed from Korea: former Commissioner Lee Yong-seung of the Central Public Health Center ('60-'63), former Director Lee Seong-woo of the Korea National Institute of Health ('84-'87), and former Director Shin Young-soo, PhD of WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific ('95-'98), former Director Eom Young-jin of the Ministry of Health and Welfare ('01-'04), former Director Son Myeong-se of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service ('07-'10), and former Assistant MinisterJeon Man-bok of the Ministry of Health and Welfare ('01-'04). '13-'16), former Food and Drug Safety Minister Kim Gang-lip ('20-23').