South Korea and Mongolia revise health cooperation MOU after 15 years, expanding collaboration in AI digital health and cancer care

[Financial News] South Korea and Mongolia are set to deepen cooperation in health care. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said on the 9th that Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong visited Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for a three-day trip starting on the 8th, revised the memorandum of understanding on health cooperation between the two countries' health ministries, and discussed ways to expand collaboration on cancer care and exchanges among medical professionals.
On the day, Jeong met with Mongolia's Minister of Health Enkhbayar Batshugar at the Mongolian Ministry of Health and discussed detailed steps to implement the revised MOU. She then attended the exchange ceremony for the health cooperation MOU between the two countries, held in the presence of President Lee Jae Myung and Mongolian President Ohkhna Khurelsukh.
The revision updates the original agreement signed in 2011 to reflect recent changes in the health care environment and significantly broadens the scope of cooperation. The two countries agreed to strengthen collaboration in health care delivery systems, medical workforce training, cancer and chronic disease management, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, AI-based digital health care, healthy aging, advanced regenerative medicine, and the health industry.
They also reviewed progress on a separate agreement signed in March at Medical Korea 2026 on dispatching government-funded patients and supporting training for medical professionals, and agreed to continue expanding related projects.
Cooperation in cancer care will also move forward in earnest. The National Cancer Center and the Mongolian National Cancer Center signed a separate memorandum of understanding and agreed to pursue joint research in basic science, cancer prevention and screening, and clinical studies, while also expanding academic conferences and expert exchanges.
Jeong also held a meeting with medical professionals who had taken part in the Korea-Mongolia Seoul Project, a past exchange program for doctors from the two countries, and shared the results of their training. From 2012 to 2019, the program trained 173 Mongolian medical professionals at Korean medical institutions, and some graduates are now working at major medical facilities in Mongolia. The government plans to appoint program graduates as honorary ambassadors for health care exchange and cooperation to continue medical ties between the two countries.
On the final day of the visit, the 10th, she is scheduled to meet with representatives of Korean medical institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies operating in Mongolia to hear their concerns and encourage medical staff.
Jeong said, "We expect the revised MOU to further energize a wide range of cooperation projects, including dispatching government-funded patients, cancer research collaboration, training for medical professionals, and expansion into pharmaceuticals and medical devices." She added, "Based on mutual trust, we will continue to expand cooperation for innovation in health care systems and the development of the health industry."

wonder@fnnews.com Jung Sang-hee Reporter