2025 UHC Day Champion
Hon. Hyun-Young Shin
Congresswoman, 21st National Assembly of Republic of Korea
Browse other champions
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- Dr. Viroj Tangcharoensathien, Vice Chair and Senior Advisor, International Health Policy Program Foundation, Thailand
- Solange Mbaye, Regional Programme Manager for Amref Health Africa, Senegal
- Levy Mkandawire, Programme Manager for Amref Health Africa, Zambia
- Concepta Kwaleyela, President of the Midwives Association of Zambia
- Professor Anne Beatrice Kihara, Former President of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kenya
- Hester Mkwinda Nyasulu, Country Manager for Amref, Malawi
- Habibou Ouedraogo, Health Economist, Ministry of Health, Burkina Faso
- Hon. Hyun-Young Shin, Congresswoman, 21st National Assembly of Republic of Korea
The Republic of Korea is a country with the National health insurance system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it gained international recognition for its response through free testing and treatment for all citizens. However, in light of the reality of a super-aged society, UHC remains an important policy value domestically.
Hon Hyun-Young Shin is a Clinical Professor at the Deptarment of Family Medicine, Seoul Saint Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea, and Congresswoman of the 21st National Assembly of Republic of Korea.
The Republic of Korea, known for its National Health Insurance system and internationally recognized COVID-19 response, faces new UHC challenges as it transitions into a super-aged society. As the only physician on the Health and Welfare Committee in the 21st National Assembly and secretary of the Gender Equality and Family Committee, Hon Hyun-Young Shin has advanced UHC through measures that strengthen financial protection, expand access—particularly for vulnerable older adults and people with disabilities—and supported vaccine sovereignty and public-private partnerships. She has also worked to broaden coverage by promoting public hospital expansion, improving healthcare access for women, children, and multicultural families, and proposing digital health and telemedicine legislation to enhance care in underserved regions.
