The Korean Liver Association needs policies to fight hepatitis B and C in 2030
Jul 21, 2025
'A policy discussion on how to guarantee health rights among citizens through globalization of hepatitis policy' was held at the 2nd Seminar Room of the National Assembly Hall on the 18th.
The debate was hosted by Rep. Jang Jong-tae (Democratic Party of Korea, Seo-gu Gap in Daejeon), a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, and organized by the Korean Liver Association to discuss global trends in hepatitis policy and in-depth how to respond to Korea's policy.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal of 'Cating hepatitis B and C by 2030' and recommends each country to strengthen its policy response.
Korea has also established the "1st Basic Plan for the Management of Viral Hepatitis (2023-2027)" to continue its policy efforts, but the current response alone is expected to make it difficult to achieve the 2030 goal proposed by the WHO, and a stronger and more effective policy change is required to overcome this and accelerate the eradication of hepatitis.
The debate began with Jang Jong-tae's opening speech, and Kwon Deok-cheol, a former health and welfare minister (chair professor at Chonbuk National University), and Kim Yoon-joon, a professor at Seoul Medical University (chairman of the Korean Liver Association), led the proceedings.
In the topic presentation, Professor Jang Eun-sun (Seoul Medical University, medical policy committee member of the Korean Liver Association) introduced the comparison and future direction of viral hepatitis policies at home and abroad, and Professor Kim In-hee (Jeonbuk Medical University, medical policy director of the Korean Liver Association) presented the basis for the policy proposal, focusing on the need to expand the national screening of hepatitis C and the social ripple effect.
In the panel discussion that followed, experts from various fields such as academia, the government, patient organizations, and the media participated to focus on effective implementation strategies.
Professor Ki Moran (National Cancer Center), Director Jeong Hye-eun (Health Promotion Division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare), Director Park Young-joon (Infectious Disease Control Division of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), CEO Yoon Gu-hyun (Kansarang Association), and Deputy Director Min Tae-won (Kookmin Ilbo) participated in the discussion.
The participants suggested ▲ expansion of the national hepatitis C examination targets ▲ reinforcement of hepatitis C diagnosis-treatment linkage ▲ expansion of hepatitis B antiviral drug treatment targets and improvement of health insurance benefit standards ▲ expansion of the 'primary viral hepatitis management basic plan' ▲ reinforcement of the governance system as key tasks, and urged effective policy implementation. Above all, hepatitis B and C are preventable and treatable diseases, so consensus has been formed on the importance of the national will to fight it.
Representative Jang Jong-tae said, "We need to expand the national health examination's hepatitis C antibody test to suit reality and reasonably improve the health insurance coverage standards for hepatitis B treatment to eliminate treatment blind spots.""We will make efforts to lay a sustainable legal foundation and strengthen hepatitis management governance through the enactment of a special law for hepatitis management."," he said.
Chairman of the Korean Liver Association Kim Yoon-joon emphasized that "Hepatitis is a preventable disease if diagnosed early and treated appropriately, but many patients are still not even diagnosed." and that "joint efforts and cooperation from all walks of life, including the government, medical community, academia, and civil society, are paramount to achieving the WHO hepatitis eradication goal in 2030."
The debate was hosted by Rep. Jang Jong-tae (Democratic Party of Korea, Seo-gu Gap in Daejeon), a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, and organized by the Korean Liver Association to discuss global trends in hepatitis policy and in-depth how to respond to Korea's policy.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal of 'Cating hepatitis B and C by 2030' and recommends each country to strengthen its policy response.
Korea has also established the "1st Basic Plan for the Management of Viral Hepatitis (2023-2027)" to continue its policy efforts, but the current response alone is expected to make it difficult to achieve the 2030 goal proposed by the WHO, and a stronger and more effective policy change is required to overcome this and accelerate the eradication of hepatitis.
The debate began with Jang Jong-tae's opening speech, and Kwon Deok-cheol, a former health and welfare minister (chair professor at Chonbuk National University), and Kim Yoon-joon, a professor at Seoul Medical University (chairman of the Korean Liver Association), led the proceedings.
In the topic presentation, Professor Jang Eun-sun (Seoul Medical University, medical policy committee member of the Korean Liver Association) introduced the comparison and future direction of viral hepatitis policies at home and abroad, and Professor Kim In-hee (Jeonbuk Medical University, medical policy director of the Korean Liver Association) presented the basis for the policy proposal, focusing on the need to expand the national screening of hepatitis C and the social ripple effect.
In the panel discussion that followed, experts from various fields such as academia, the government, patient organizations, and the media participated to focus on effective implementation strategies.
Professor Ki Moran (National Cancer Center), Director Jeong Hye-eun (Health Promotion Division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare), Director Park Young-joon (Infectious Disease Control Division of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), CEO Yoon Gu-hyun (Kansarang Association), and Deputy Director Min Tae-won (Kookmin Ilbo) participated in the discussion.
The participants suggested ▲ expansion of the national hepatitis C examination targets ▲ reinforcement of hepatitis C diagnosis-treatment linkage ▲ expansion of hepatitis B antiviral drug treatment targets and improvement of health insurance benefit standards ▲ expansion of the 'primary viral hepatitis management basic plan' ▲ reinforcement of the governance system as key tasks, and urged effective policy implementation. Above all, hepatitis B and C are preventable and treatable diseases, so consensus has been formed on the importance of the national will to fight it.
Representative Jang Jong-tae said, "We need to expand the national health examination's hepatitis C antibody test to suit reality and reasonably improve the health insurance coverage standards for hepatitis B treatment to eliminate treatment blind spots.""We will make efforts to lay a sustainable legal foundation and strengthen hepatitis management governance through the enactment of a special law for hepatitis management."," he said.
Chairman of the Korean Liver Association Kim Yoon-joon emphasized that "Hepatitis is a preventable disease if diagnosed early and treated appropriately, but many patients are still not even diagnosed." and that "joint efforts and cooperation from all walks of life, including the government, medical community, academia, and civil society, are paramount to achieving the WHO hepatitis eradication goal in 2030."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
