Professor Jung Ki-suck, the former head of the National Advisory Committee on Infectious Diseases Crisis Response, will take over as President of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), a position that has been vacant for four months.

NHIS is the operator of Korea's national health insurance program. 

Professor Jung Ki-suck, the former head of the National Advisory Committee on Infectious Diseases Crisis Response, was appointed as the new President of the National Health Insurance Service. (Courtesy of the  Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters)
Professor Jung Ki-suck, the former head of the National Advisory Committee on Infectious Diseases Crisis Response, was appointed as the new President of the National Health Insurance Service. (Courtesy of the  Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters)

The position has been vacant since early March when former President Kang Do-tae, who was appointed by the former Moon Jae-in administration, announced an abrupt decision to retire.

Jung will serve a three-year term.

He has served as a professor at Hallim University College of Medicine. He was also head of the former Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During the Covid-19 crisis, Jung served as the head of the special response team of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and head of the National Advisory Committee on Infectious Diseases Crisis Response.

"With his medical expertise and administrative experience, the new president Jung is expected to smoothly carry out the current issues of the NHIS, such as managing health insurance finances and strengthening health insurance coverage centered on essential medical care, and stably operate the NHIS organization," the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.

The appointment was made by President Yoon Suk Yeol upon the recommendation of the NHIS's executive search committee and the Minister of Health and Welfare.

 

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