1. The member states of the “Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security” led by the Korean government, together with co-chairs of the “Global Preparedness Monitoring Board” made up of prominent figures in infectious disease response, held a high-level meeting on the morning of December 15 (New York time), and assessed the COVID-19 response so far in terms of health security and discussed the way forward.

o Ms. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and former Prime Minister of Norway, and Mr. Elhadj As Sy, former Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), attended the meeting as co-chairs of the “Global Preparedness Monitoring Board” and provided a briefing to the ambassadors of the member states of the Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security.

2. The participants agreed on the necessity of continued investment in domestic and global health response systems; decisive and responsible leadership and civic engagement; strengthening social security system including universal access to medical care; and response based on multilateralism including partnerships with international financial institutions in order to respond to and prepare for COVID-19 and health security threats in the future.

o In particular, they stressed that the governments and people of each country should be aware that infectious disease is not only a health threat but also could turn into a security threat due to its enormous social and economic repercussions and should invest in establishing a comprehensive response system, making it a policy priority.

o They also highlighted the importance of trust in government and citizens’ voluntary participation; the establishment of universal social security system including for vulnerable groups; and global response based on multilateralism, including cooperation with the World Bank and other relevant organizations in developing and distributing vaccines.

3. In his concluding remarks, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Cho Hyun emphasized the importance of domestic response through early warning, prompt information sharing, and civic engagement as well as the international vaccine supply chain based on multilateral solidarity. He went on to say that the “Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security” will continue various activities so that it can function as a platform leading discussions on response to COVID-19 and the spread of infectious diseases in the future.

4. The high-level meeting served as an opportunity to have in-depth discussions with health experts on the COVID-19 response so far and a system for tackling health threats in the future. The Korean government, as a country leading the “Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security,” will take the lead in more specialized discussions on public health and health security by engaging more actively with international organizations and experts in New York, and based on that, continue to lead solidarity and cooperation within the UN.