Korea, GAVI discuss strengthening cooperation in health care and vaccine initiatives in Seoul

First Vice Minister of Government Policy Coordination Kim Young-su met with the chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) in Seoul on Thursday and discussed ways to increase cooperation between the two sides, officials said.

During the meeting with the GAVI chair, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Kim said Korea intends to further expand cooperation with international healthcare organizations under its official development assistance plans in the healthcare sector announced in May.

Kim also said the country hopes to strengthen its strategic partnership with GAVI so that Korean vaccine firms can contribute further to improving the international healthcare environment. The vaccine platform purchases more than $140 million worth of vaccines, or 11 percent of its vaccine needs, from Korea annually.

Clark expressed gratitude for Korea's financial contribution to GAVI and said she hoped to strengthen cooperation with the country in vaccine development and distribution, and to innovate in the health and bio sectors using AI.

Korea contributed $426 million to GAVI between 2010 and 2025 and plans to contribute an additional $50 million until 2030.

Yonhap