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Lee says AI should be used to bridge healthcare gaps worldwide

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Summary

President Lee Jae Myung called for responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare to bridge gaps in medical services worldwide in a speech to the World Bio Summit 2026 in Seoul on Wednesday. His senior secretary for social affairs, Kim Kyoung-ja, read the speech on his behalf. The World Health Organization and the Korean government are hosting the summit, which adopted the AI Healthcare Seoul Declaration calling for global solidarity and safe, responsible use of AI.


Key Facts

  • The World Health Organization is hosting the summit Wednesday and Thursday in collaboration with the Korean government.
  • The AI Healthcare Seoul Declaration calls for AI innovation benefits to be shared by all.
  • Lee said ensuring everyone has access to proper medical services is a task of the time and requires collective effort.
By Yonhap
  • Published Oct 21, 2026 4:23 pm KST
President Lee Jae Myung arrvies at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung arrvies at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that artificial intelligence (AI) technology should be used responsibly in the healthcare sector to bridge healthcare gaps worldwide.

The president delivered the message in a speech to the World Bio Summit 2026 in Seoul, which was read on his behalf by his senior secretary for social affairs, Kim Kyoung-ja.

The World Health Organization is hosting the event Wednesday and Thursday in collaboration with the Korean government.

"In the healthcare sector, which is directly connected to human lives, AI technology should be used safely and responsibly to bridge gaps in medical services worldwide," the president said.

The summit adopted the "AI Healthcare Seoul Declaration," calling for global solidarity to ensure that the benefits from AI innovations are shared by all and that AI technology is used in safe and responsible manners.

"Narrowing gaps between countries in the healthcare sector and ensuring that everyone has access to proper medical services is the task of our time, and everyone should work together to accomplish it," Lee noted.

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