Gilead's RED campaign in Korea aims to end HIV stigma, discrimination

Advances in antiretroviral therapy have transformed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into a manageable chronic disease. Yet, experts warn that social perceptions remain stuck in the past, with prejudice and discrimination continuing to endanger patients’ lives.

The Korean Society for AIDS, together with Gilead Sciences Korea, has launched the “RED” campaign to end stigma and discrimination against people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

To mark the launch, Gilead hosted a roundtable on Wednesday that brought together medical professionals, patient groups, academia, and industry representatives to call for an end to stigma surrounding HIV in Korea and related policy support.

The campaign draws inspiration from the red ribbon symbol of AIDS awareness.

At the meeting, speakers highlighted that despite scientific progress, people living with HIV in Korea face disproportionate social and psychological burdens. According to a mortality study of people diagnosed with HIV in 2017, the risk of suicide was found to be 1.84 times higher than among the non-infected population.

“Today, the greatest threat facing people with HIV is not the virus itself but stigma,” said Professor Chin Beom-sik of the National Medical Center’s infectious diseases department, who delivered a keynote presentation titled “Ending Social Stigma in Line with Advances in HIV Treatment.”

He stressed that antiretroviral therapy (ART) allows patients diagnosed and treated early to live a normal life span, with the virus becoming undetectable in blood tests and no longer transmissible to others.

“HIV is now a controllable chronic condition, yet outdated perceptions continue to harm patients’ quality of life,” he said.

Chin noted that discriminatory practices, such as the refusal of surgery, persist in clinical settings.

“Some hospitals continue to deny care based on fear, even though post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can completely prevent infection if administered within 72 hours,” he said. “There is no justification for refusing HIV patients when hepatitis B or C patients are not denied surgery.”

He added that systemic changes are necessary, starting with replacing stigmatizing terminology.

“The current AIDS Prevention Act contains no reference to AIDS but solely addresses HIV prevention and management,” he said. “Renaming the law would be a starting point to eliminate stigma embedded in public systems.”

A new public opinion survey presented at the event underscored the urgency of change.

Conducted in May by the LGBT rights group Sinnaneun Center and Korea Research, the poll of 3,000 adults revealed that while 80 percent of respondents had heard of HIV, only 25 percent could distinguish it from AIDS.

Just 13 percent believed Korean society is inclusive toward HIV, while 81 percent agreed the government should strengthen policy support for prevention and care.

“The striking finding is that society itself recognizes its lack of openness,” Chin said. “This provides a strong basis for government-backed action to tackle stigma and discrimination.”

Professor Kim Tae-hyung of Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, who chaired the panel discussion, echoed these concerns.

“Among infectious disease physicians, it is obvious that HIV can be prevented and treated,” Kim said. “However, outside our field, HIV patients are still not recognized as patients, and discrimination persists as if it were natural and that is heartbreaking.

Gilead Sciences Korea, which co-hosted the campaign launch with the Korean Society for AIDS, also pointed to the importance of preventive medicine.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is now considered one of the most effective and practical methods of preventing HIV infection, reducing transmission risk to nearly zero when taken appropriately.

Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been expanding PrEP reimbursement and testing support for high-risk groups since January.

Closing the roundtable, Kim, who also serves as planning director of the Korean Society for AIDS, said, “The RED Full Stop campaign is our promise to end discrimination and guarantee equal access to prevention and treatment for all.”

HIV should no longer be viewed through the lens of stigma but as a manageable chronic disease, he added.