Minister Jeong Highlights Cooperation on NCD Prevention and Mental Health Promotion at UN Meeting

- Delivers statement on “Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on NCDs and Mental Health and Well-being” –

 – Holds bilateral meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Health to strengthen cooperation -

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong) announced that Minister Jeong participated in the High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being on Thursday, September 25, during the 80th UN General Assembly High-Level Week (September 23–30), representing the Government of the Republic of Korea.

At this high-level meeting, heads of state, ministers, and senior officials from UN member states—including Korea—acknowledged that risk factors for NCDs and mental health conditions are significantly shaped by social, economic, environmental, and commercial determinants. They reviewed global progress in NCD prevention and control and in mental health promotion, and reaffirmed the importance of implementing priority actions identified at earlier high-level meetings in 2011, 2014, and 2018,* as well as the need to sustain support for these commitments.

In her remarks, Minister Jeong noted that NCDs and mental health conditions disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including low-income populations, persons with disabilities, and older adults. She emphasized that addressing these challenges requires not only national efforts but also collective global action and leadership.

Minister Jeong also highlighted Korea’s policy achievements, including the expansion of person-centered primary health care as a cornerstone of chronic disease management amid demographic shifts driven by low birth rates and rapid population aging. She further underscored Korea’s resolve to prioritize mental health as a national agenda and to actively implement comprehensive policies in pursuit of this goal.

In addition, Minister Jeong reaffirmed Korea’s dedication to promoting global health equity and contributing to sustainable development through sustained official development assistance (ODA).

During her trip, Minister Jeong held bilateral talks with the health ministers of the United States, Sweden, and Singapore to discuss avenues for cooperation. She also examined how major financial institutions in New York are managing Korea’s National Pension Service investment assets and gathered insights from Korean financial experts on healthcare investment trends.

On Friday, September 26, Minister Jeong will visit Harvard Medical School in Boston to discuss Korea–U.S. collaboration in joint research and development and the current status of physician-scientist training. She will also tour LabCentral* and the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC)** to learn about their key programs and operations, and will meet with Korean entrepreneurs and researchers in the biohealth sector to discuss their work and exchange views on ways to support global expansion.

  * LabCentral: A shared laboratory supporting biotech startups in the Boston biotechnology cluster

 ** CIC: A coworking office and business growth platform that provides workspace and hosts events such as investor briefings and idea exchanges.

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