1. On May 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the first meeting of the committee on the operation of the Global Disease Eradication Fund, which was set up on January 1, 2017, after the Global Disease Eradication Fund Act was passed at the plenary session of the National Assembly (December 2, 2016). The meeting was chaired by Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahn Chong-ghee.

o The committee on the operation of the Global Disease Eradication Fund consists of ten members, including related officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency, as well as experts from the private sector.

2. In the first meeting of the committee, its members deliberated and made decisions on major issues regarding the operation of the fund and the implementation of projects, including a proposal on the plan for fund operation in 2018, and projects to support private-sector activities during 2017.

o With the previous system “Global Poverty Eradication Contribution” having been changed to the “Global Disease Eradication Fund,” the committee decided to focus on fighting and responding to global infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio.

o In the meeting, the committee members also deliberated and made decisions on regulations for the operation of the committee, and a plan to commission research in a bid to establish the system for fund operation. Drawing upon the outcome, the Foreign Ministry will establish institutional bases for a stable operation of the Global Disease Eradication Fund by the end of this year.

3. The Global Disease Eradication Fund supports developing countries’ programs to prevent and eradicate diseases, including infectious diseases, with funds raised from the system in which 1,000 KRW gets collected from each international flight passenger departing from the ROK. The system is commonly known as “Air Ticket Solidarity Levy” in the international community.

o The Fund, a representative model of “innovative financing for development,” which complements the government’s official development assistance (ODA), is being used through healthcare-related international organizations and NGOs to help developing countries prevent and fight diseases and build their capacities in public healthcare.


* unofficial translation