The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and the Korean Diabetes Association held a blue light lighting ceremony for overcoming diabetes at Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office and residence, on Tuesday, marking World Diabetes Day.

The event was designed to raise awareness of the increasing diabetes, conveying a message of hope for overcoming diabetes through the improvement of the treatment environment.

The event was held at Cheong Wa Dae, open to the public, and was attended by more than 140 people, including experts in the field of diabetes, patients with diabetes, their families, and health officials, demonstrating the will of unity and solidarity to overcome diabetes in Korea.

"The ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae represents the unity of all diabetics under the blue sky," said Won Kyu-chang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Korean Diabetes Association. "Cheong Wa Dae, which has become a national space and a symbol of unity, is the perfect place to hold the blue lighting ceremony." 

This year's ceremony was even more meaningful because not only physicians but also patients and their families joined such a precious occasion, he noted.

"The risk of diabetes is increasing, as a life-threatening chronic disease in Korea," said Jun Byung-wang, head of the Healthcare Policy Office at the Ministry of Health and Welfare. "We will strengthen government support for patients and their caregivers to receive sufficient education and counseling, and expand support for the purchase of diabetes management devices to reduce the burden of medical expenses on patients."

At the ceremony, a total of 28 people were selected to receive awards and encouragement, including physicians who have been working to raise awareness of diabetes, patients who are setting an example through consistent management to overcome diabetes, and young patients who are facing difficulties in the treatment process.

According to the Korean Diabetes Association, 6 million people suffer from diabetes and 15 million are in the pre-diabetic stage in Korea. 

The association is informing the risk of diabetes awareness among the 2030 generation and running a campaign to self-diagnose the risk of diabetes through its social media channels. 

“The ceremony held today by MOHW and KDA was an opportunity to call for earlier diagnosis,” said Sasha Semienchuk, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Korea, in his LinkedIn post on Tuesday. 

“For Novo Nordisk Korea, we aim to do much more to drive change in this disease here in Korea. Working with not only healthcare systems but also with communities where patients live.”