The Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) embarked on a series of visits from March 18 to 19, 2024, to foster cooperation in bolstering health security and address pressing health issues across Asia. The visits included key meetings with the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO), the Philippine Department of Health, the Asian Development Bank, and the Philippine Institute of Tropical Medicine.

During the meeting with the WHO Regional Director for WPRO, fruitful discussions led to consensus on several future collaborations. These encompass facilitating personnel exchanges between KDCA and WPRO, initiating a high-level policy dialogue, renewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the second half of the year, and pursuing the establishment of a WHO Collaborating Center.

Discussion with the Philippine Department of Health resulted in an agreement to enhance information sharing and technical collaboration across various fields. These include public health emergency response, surveillance and management of infectious diseases such as measles, and research and surveillance of noncommunicable diseases. Additionally, bilateral cooperation channels will be activated through the signing of an MoU.

Cooperation with the Asian Development Bank focused on critical areas such as climate change, One Health (including antimicrobial resistance), and the establishment of a CDC dedicated to pandemic preparedness and response. Both sides agreed to formalize this partnership through an MoU signing at the upcoming World Health Assembly, underscoring the commitment to closer cooperation.

Furthermore, the meeting with the Philippine Institute of Tropical Medicine aimed at deepening research cooperation in specific fields, including dengue, chikungunya virus, and severe febrile thrombocytopenia syndrome. Leveraging the MoU signed between the National Institute of Infectious Diseases of Korea and the Philippine Institute of Tropical Medicine, both sides will advance tropical disease research.

Commissioner Dr. Jee stated, "KDCA is dedicated to expanding its cooperation with international organizations to share Korea's expertise and experiences in various areas with the Asian countries. This commitment seeks to strengthen regional and global health security.“