President Yoon Suk-yeol pledged Korea's active contribution to strengthening international health solidarity during a session focusing on health at the G20 Indonesia Summit.

"The preciousness of freedom and the importance of solidarity were reminded once again at a time when the global community is regaining the freedom that was restricted by the Covid-19 pandemic through strong health solidarity among global countries," Yoon said during his opening speech at the session. "In turn, defending the universal value of freedom from another pandemic depends on the solidarity of the international community."

The Republic of Korea will contribute more actively to strengthening and spreading solidarity among citizens worldwide who share the value of freedom, Yoon added.

During the session, President Yoon also introduced his administration's plans to expand official development assistance (ODA), which is a government aid that promotes and specifically targets the economic development and welfare of developing countries.

"In the midst of Korea's recent pursuit of intensive fiscal consolidation, our administration has submitted a 14.2 percent increase in the official ODA budget for next year to the National Assembly to fulfill Korea's role and responsibility as a pivotal global country," Yoon said.

Yoon also announced that it would actively contribute to ACT-A (Access to COVID-19 Tools-Accelerator) for pandemic cooperation, such as donating an additional $100 million in addition to the existing $200 million it had promised.

Notably, President Yoon evaluated that the "Pandemic Fund," launched by the G20 to prevent and respond to pandemics, would greatly contribute to protecting humanity from potential pandemic risks.

"As a founding member of the Pandemic Fund, the Republic of Korea pledges to participate responsibly in future discussions and cooperation," Yoon added. "The Republic of Korea is also contributing to the international community as a facilitator of international health solidarity."

Last month, the Korean government held the "World Bio Summit," jointly with the WHO, taking the lead in adopting the Seoul Declaration, which aims to develop infectious disease response measures and ensure fair access to such measures.

President Yoon also reaffirmed Korea's commitment to donate $100 million to the Global Fund for the prevention and response of three major infectious diseases --AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria --, and suggested spreading the focus on Covid-19 to other health fields as well.