Several decisions and resolutions adopted at WHA79 deserve particular attention in light of this journal’s editorial scope [2]. Although the WHO Pandemic Agreement was adopted last year, negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing Annex—one of its key components—had not reached a final agreement after 6 rounds of formal meetings in 2025–2026. Discussions will therefore continue, and the outcome is expected to be submitted to the Eightieth World Health Assembly or to a special session. Meanwhile, implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is shifting from emergency response toward a broader framework emphasizing preparedness, resilience, equity, and whole-of-society approaches. This shift underscores the growing interdependence of health security, community engagement, and strengthened health systems [3]. WHA79 also reaffirmed antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a major global health priority by endorsing the AMR Global Action Plan 2026–2036 and strengthening the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System. AMR is increasingly understood as a long-term threat whose impact may rival or exceed that of many infectious diseases. WHO also formally incorporated precision medicine into the global health agenda by adopting a resolution that recognized the importance of personalized and targeted therapies in the era of artificial intelligence, genomics, and multi-omics technologies, while emphasizing equitable access to these innovations. The Assembly also highlighted growing concerns about global health workforce shortages and the international migration of health personnel. The WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel was reaffirmed in response to post-COVID-19 workforce shortages and brain drain, with implications for regional disparities in health workforce distribution in the Republic of Korea. Another important resolution addressed stroke prevention and health system readiness. Beyond acute stroke management, the resolution emphasized rehabilitation and preparedness across the continuum of care. This is relevant to the Republic of Korea, where emergency referral gaps, regional disparities, and delayed access to care have become increasingly evident. The decision to strengthen pharmacovigilance and establish smarter, more efficient medicine safety systems is also noteworthy. For countries such as the Republic of Korea, which continue to address issues related to large-scale COVID-19 vaccination programs, adverse events, and compensation mechanisms, the resolution underscores the need to invest in digital technologies and artificial intelligence for medicine safety surveillance.

The international health landscape continues to change. In 2026, the Public Health Emergency of International Concern for poliomyelitis remained in effect, while Ebola outbreaks caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda again demonstrated the persistent threat of emerging infectious diseases. These events reaffirm that community-based surveillance, risk communication, and rapid mobilization of field personnel remain central to global health security.

The articles in this issue reflect these priorities. The review on climate change and older adults emphasizes that climate change is a public health issue. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness, infectious diseases, and mental health effects associated with climate change. The review supports WHO priorities on healthy aging and resilience and has implications for the Republic of Korea’s expanding community-based integrated care initiatives.

Although malaria elimination remains achievable, recent progress has slowed, and gains have proven fragile in several settings. Population displacement, emerging resistance, and weaknesses in surveillance continue to threaten elimination efforts. In this context, the review on the genetic diversity of Plasmodium species in Southeast Asia demonstrates the increasing importance of molecular surveillance during the elimination phase.

The article on community-based surveillance in Malaysia provides practical evidence supporting community engagement, which has gained renewed attention after the Pandemic Agreement and the revised IHR. The study on scrub typhus in Busan, the Republic of Korea, demonstrates how climate and environmental changes are altering the distribution of vector-borne diseases and underscores the need for locally tailored prevention strategies.

Two papers in this issue address AMR, one of the major themes discussed at WHA79. The Indonesian study on the tolC efflux pump provides molecular insights into multidrug resistance mechanisms in Klebsiella pneumoniae, while the Malaysian study on carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae demonstrates the value of genomic epidemiology and One Health approaches in controlling hospital-associated transmission.

The article on EQ-5D measurement invariance in the Korea Health Panel confirms the instrument’s long-term stability and provides a valuable foundation for evaluating healthy aging, health equity, and integrated care policies. The review on personalized medicine for autoimmune diseases illustrates the growing convergence of public health and precision medicine in the era of artificial intelligence and multi-omics technologies.

Finally, the Perspective article on integrating Ayush practitioners into outbreak investigations in India addresses the growing challenges of health workforce shortages and community engagement. Although the proposal is consistent with WHO’s emphasis on whole-of-society approaches, outbreak investigations require specialized epidemiological competencies, and further evidence is needed to determine whether such integration improves outbreak detection and response.

The articles in this issue reflect several emerging priorities in global public health, including climate resilience, elimination-era surveillance, community engagement, AMR, healthy aging, health system strengthening, and precision medicine. As the discussions at WHA79 highlighted, resilient health systems require sustained investment in preparedness, equity, workforce development, community engagement, and innovative technologies.

Twenty years after Dr. Lee Jong-wook’s death, the inscription on his memorial stone offers a timely reminder in the post-COVID-19 era: “Learning from the past, we can change the future of global public health and continue moving forward toward the goal of Health for All” [4]. His vision continues to guide efforts to build resilient, equitable, people-centered health systems.

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