South Korea and ASEAN explore cooperation on AI in healthcare

South Korea and ASEAN member states are exploring closer cooperation on artificial intelligence in healthcare, with a regional conference in Seoul bringing together government officials, researchers and industry representatives to discuss policy, governance and practical applications.

The ASEAN-ROK Health Conference 2026 opened on 29 October and runs until 30 October under the theme “Intelligence for Human Dignity: Towards a Health System That Leaves No One Behind Through AI and Digital Healthcare”.

Hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, in cooperation with the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) and the ASEAN Secretariat, the conference is intended to provide a working-level forum for exchanging experiences and identifying opportunities for collaboration.

According to the ministry, approximately 60–70 participants are attending, including healthcare and digital health officials from eight ASEAN member states: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste. Brunei Darussalam is participating in writing.

The discussions build on a joint statement adopted at the third ASEAN-Republic of Korea Health Ministers Meeting, held in Kuala Lumpur on 11 September. The statement identified digital health and health information systems as priority areas for regional cooperation between 2026 and 2028.

The conference programme covers both the policy frameworks needed to support healthcare AI and its application in clinical and research settings.

In a session on AI policy and governance, South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare is presenting its implementation plans, including its strategy for AI-based primary healthcare. Representatives from South Korean public institutions, including the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and the National Health Insurance Service, are also participating in discussions alongside officials from ASEAN countries.

A separate session focuses on implementation and real-world applications, with contributions from the RIGHT Foundation and Yonsei University Health System’s AX Center. Discussions are expected to examine experience in expanding AI use in medical research and development and healthcare delivery.

Industry perspectives are also represented. Professor Cha Won Chul of Samsung Medical Center is delivering a keynote on AI-driven clinical innovation, while Yoo Donggeun, chief AI officer at South Korean medical AI company Lunit, is presenting technology developments and industry case studies.

The conference comes as healthcare systems across Asia face growing pressure to improve access, strengthen health infrastructure and address shortages in clinical resources. AI and digital health technologies are increasingly being considered as potential tools to support these objectives, although their implementation raises questions around governance, data infrastructure, clinical validation and equitable access.

For ASEAN, where healthcare capacity and digital maturity vary considerably between member states, regional cooperation could help governments share experience and develop approaches to AI adoption that reflect differing national requirements.

South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare said the conference was intended to strengthen public-private cooperation and support the development of healthcare AI in a way that accounts for differences in national capabilities and healthcare environments.

Kim Jae-woo, the ministry’s director general for international cooperation, said the meeting provided an opportunity for working-level discussions on the priorities agreed at the September health ministers’ meeting.

The conference is taking place on 29–30 October in Seoul.