[2026 Audit] From the "Halfhearted Basic Pension" to Mifjin and Prescription Delivery... Key Issues for the Ministry of Health and Welfare Audit

October 7-8: Health Ministry and Disease Control Agency Audits
From Pension and Insurance Fund Finances to Essential Regional Healthcare
Warehouse Pharmacies and Remote Drug Delivery Also Under Scrutiny

The National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee began the 2026 parliamentary audit on October 7, starting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. This year’s audit is expected to focus on key issues such as the revision of the Basic Pension, the reform of the National Pension, the financial status of the National Health Insurance, essential regional healthcare, the introduction of the abortion medication “Mifjin,” and remote prescription drug delivery.

Jeong Eun-gyeong, Minister of Health and Welfare, attended the 8th general meeting of the Special Committee on Pension Reform held at the National Assembly on the 29th of last month, providing a report on current issues. 2026.09.29 Photo by Yoon Dongju

The most closely watched topic is the government’s proposed reforms to the Basic Pension, announced last month. The plan calls for an additional 30,000 won per month for seniors in the bottom 30% income bracket, under a “lower-income differentiation” approach, but excluded measures such as adjusting eligibility standards for the upper brackets that were initially announced. The opposition and even some ruling party members have criticized the omission of a long-term reform roadmap, calling it a “halfhearted revision,” and intensive questioning is expected during the audit.

Regarding the National Pension, the audit will examine the stability and sustainability of the fund, the impact of deferred rebalancing measures, and investment losses caused by steep declines in the stock market. There is also debate about the effectiveness of the “First Pension Insurance Premium Support for Young People,” a full-scale initiative set to be implemented next year. During the National Pension Service audit scheduled for October 14, key topics will include how much the policy will actually increase youth participation and whether the fiscal investment is justified.

With the government freezing the health insurance premium rate for 2027 at 7.19%—the same as this year—a return to deficits for the National Health Insurance fund is being taken as a given. This is expected to prompt questions about whether the premium freeze is appropriate and what measures can be taken to stabilize the fund’s finances. During the audit of the National Health Insurance Service and Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service scheduled for October 16, issues such as the management of non-covered services, coverage expansion, and the rise in national healthcare costs will also be addressed.

Nine regional national university hospitals, including Pusan National University Hospital, Kangwon National University Hospital, and Chungbuk National University Hospital, which were transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in August, will undergo audit on October 8. The audit will focus on their roles as essential regional medical hubs, as well as challenges such as staffing shortages and management difficulties. In addition, with the recent passage of the “Emergency Department Transfer Prevention Act,” there will be calls for the government to establish a follow-up patient transfer system and respond to backlash from the medical community, especially after the police recently raided pediatric emergency rooms.

On the pharmaceutical front, the government’s planned introduction of Mifjin in the first quarter of next year raises issues concerning safety management and the role of medical professionals. Lee Sangjun, CEO of Hyundai Pharm, which holds the domestic exclusive rights to Mifjin, has been called as a witness at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety audit on October 13, and at the comprehensive audit on October 27, Kim Jaeyeon, President of the Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Lee Jaegwan, President of the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, are expected to share perspectives from the medical community on the introduction of the medication.

As full-scale remote medical consultation is being institutionalized, there is heated debate over how far to expand delivery of pharmaceuticals. Platform companies argue that expanded delivery will improve patient access, while pharmacists express concern about potential misuse and safety issues, as well as harm to the local pharmacy ecosystem. The issue of “warehouse-type pharmacies” within large distribution centers and their encroachment on local community pharmacies will also be discussed. Jeong Jinwoong, CEO of DoctorNow, and Kwon Younghee, President of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, will appear as witnesses on October 8 to represent their respective industries’ positions. Other topics expected to come up include controversy over regional doctor assignments, workplace harassment of nurses (“Taeum”), medical accidents and patient safety, and the current state of integrated care programs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.