Mr. Deok-Cheol Kwon is a Senior Advisor at Shin & Kim, mainly practicing in the areas of Healthcare & Life Sciences.

Mr. Kwon passed the 31st National Civil Service Examination and has served for the Ministry of Health and Welfare for 33 years since April 1988 as the director general of the bureau of planning and budget, head of the division of healthcare policy, director general of the bureau of welfare policy, director general of the bureau of healthcare policy, head of the office for healthcare policy, head of the office for planning and coordination and the vice minister.

Mr. Kwon was appointed as the 54th Minister of Health and Welfare in 2020 to lead nationwide efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. Through collaboration with relevant agencies such as the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, he played a pivotal role in helping Korea successfully overcome the covid-19 crisis for the nation to be recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a model country in the fight against the covid-19 crisis.

Mr. Kwon has extensive experience in participating in the processes of establishing policies and comprehensive plans on the medical, pharmaceutical, bio and healthcare sectors, including those concerning the Medical Service Act, National Health Insurance Act, Special Act on Fostering and Support of Pharmaceutical Industry, Act on Nurturing Medical Devices Industry and Supporting Innovative Medical Devices, Act on the Safety of and Support for Advanced Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Biological Products, Act on Supporting of Overseas Expansion of Medical Services and Attraction of International Patients and digital healthcare.

In particular, he provides practical advice on various matters related to bio and healthcare industries based on his experience in implementing policies on health insurance coverage for medical materials and supplies, evaluation of new medical technologies, designation of innovative medical devices, certification of innovative pharmaceutical companies, determination of drug prices, regulatory improvements in the bio and healthcare sectors, utilization of healthcare and medical big data, increase of healthcare and medical research and development budgets, overseas expansion of medical services and the stimulation of digital healthcare.