Professor Kang Minah of the Department of Public Administration Publishes Commentary in The Lancet N
- Date2026.07.15
- 560
Highlighting Korea's Global Health Diplomacy Strategy and the Role of Middle Powers Amid the Crisis of Multilateralism
A commentary co-authored by Professor Kang Minah of the Department of Public Administration, the corresponding author, and an international team of researchers was published online in The Lancet, one of the world's most prestigious medical and public health journals, on June 22.
Founded in the United Kingdom in 1823, The Lancet (Impact Factor: 109.0) is among the world's leading journals in medicine and public health. Its Comment section, which addresses pressing global health issues, serves as an influential forum for international health policy discussions, attracting the attention of global organizations and national leaders alike. This marks the first time that a commentary focusing on Korea's role in global health diplomacy has been published in The Lancet.Professor Kang Minah of the Department of Public Administration, the Graduate Program in International Studies, the Cooperative Program in Bioethics Policy, and the Cooperative Program in Social Economy
The commentary, titled "How middle powers can strengthen global health governance: the case of South Korea," was co-authored by Professor Kang and researchers from the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul National University, the Research Investment for Global Health Technology Foundation (RIGHT Foundation), and the Gates Foundation.
The authors argue that, amid growing challenges to the U.S.-led multilateral system, middle powers such as South Korea have an increasingly important role to play in strengthening global public health governance. They highlight Korea's ability to serve as a bridge between developed and developing countries on key global health issues, including pharmaceutical patents and technology transfer. The commentary also recognizes Korea's continued efforts to promote knowledge and technology sharing through initiatives such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Bio-Manufacturing Training Hub and the RIGHT Foundation, which supports access to health technologies in low- and middle-income countries.
To strengthen Korea's global health leadership, the authors propose several policy recommendations, including establishing a whole-of-government coordinating body that integrates global health cooperation functions currently dispersed across the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare; cultivating a new generation of "health diplomats" equipped with both public health expertise and diplomatic capabilities; and expanding regional cooperation platforms.
"Global health is no longer an issue that can be addressed by individual countries alone; it is a shared challenge that requires collective action from the international community," said Professor Kang. "I hope this commentary will provide an opportunity to share Korea's experience with the global community and contribute to building a more sustainable global health governance system."
Drawing on Korea's experience in global health diplomacy, the commentary presents both the role and strategic direction that middle powers can pursue in addressing global health challenges. It is expected to provide valuable insights for future discussions on international health policy and development cooperation.
Original article:
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01153-0