Interview • Publications
The Grand Interview: Jeong Eun Kyeong, Minister of Health and Welfare
Accelerated aging, a declining birth rate, a healthcare system under pressure: South Korea is facing unprecedented demographic shifts that are forcing the country to fundamentally rethink its health and social welfare policies. For this special issue, "Health & Aging: A Korea in Transformation," Corée Affaires had the privilege of speaking with Jeong Eun Kyeong, Minister of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea, for an exclusive conversation about the major challenges ahead.
The Minister shares her medium- and long-term vision, that of an "active welfare state," and discusses the major reforms coming in 2026, including the nationwide rollout of an integrated care system designed to let citizens keep aging in their own environment while receiving tailored medical and social support.
The interview also covers the government's response to the ongoing decline in birth rates, with the stated ambition of turning Korea into a genuine "childhood-first society," as well as the measures being taken to better support young people's mental health, an increasingly urgent priority.
Jeong Eun Kyeong also addresses the sensitive question of the long-term financial sustainability of Korea's healthcare system, under growing pressure from an aging population, and explains how digital technology and artificial intelligence are now being deployed to reduce inequalities in access to care across the country, including in the most remote regions.
Finally, as France and Korea mark 140 years of diplomatic relations, the Minister delivers a strong message to French companies established in the country, sharing her vision for France-Korea cooperation in the industries of the future, particularly bio-health.
A candid, wide-ranging conversation, available in full in the pages of this issue.
Want to know more? Read the full interview in Corée Affaires n°116, available now.
