On December 16, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced its work plan under the vision of “A Welfare Powerhouse with Strong Foundations, a Happy Korea for All.” This plan aims to guarantee basic living standards for all citizens, including income, health, and care, and to innovate health and welfare systems in response to demographic changes and the AI transformation.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has achieved significant policy outcomes in the second half of 2025, including the maximum increase in the median income level for 2026 and the relaxation of medical aid support. The ministry has also established a committee to forecast medical workforce supply and demand and has been working to strengthen regional, essential, and public healthcare by creating legal grounds for regional doctors and special accounts for essential regional healthcare.
The ministry has expanded the pilot project for integrated care to all 229 cities, counties, and districts and introduced an emergency care pilot project for severely disabled individuals. To address economic and social structural changes such as low birth rates, aging, and the AI transformation, the ministry has completed amendments to the National Pension Act and implemented various policies to foster the biohealth industry.
Going forward, the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to actively pursue key initiatives to achieve four main goals: strengthening national responsibility for care, establishing a basic living safety net, enhancing regional, essential, and public healthcare, and innovating health and welfare systems to prepare for the future.