2.5 WHO office in the Republic of Korea

In December 1992, following the departure of J. Bertaux who had served as WHO Representative in the Republic of Korea since June 1987, H.D. Mehta of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was appointed as his replacement. He served until 23 April 1999 and was the last person to serve as WHO Representative in the Republic of Korea.

As the need for WHO support to the Republic of Korea decreased, the WHO Office in the Republic of Korea in 2000 was downgraded to Country Liaison Office. J.A. Vanderburg of United States of America served as WHO Country Liaison Officer in the Republic of Korea from 15 January 2000 to 1 March 2002. G. Slama of Czech Republic then served from 1 March 2002 to 17 January 2004.

After the departure of Slama, the WHO Office in the Republic of Korea was further downsized. The Director of Programme Management at the WHO Regional Office in Manila, Philippines, took the role of non-resident head of the WHO Office with the support of one administrative assistant locally hired and one driver (32). On 30 September 2012, the Government of the Republic of Korea and WHO finally agreed to close the WHO Office. The decision to close the WHO Office recognized the fact that the Republic of Korea was no longer a developing country that required health assistance from WHO and other donors (33).

© c hosunilbo

Q The Who office in the republic of Korea closed on 30 september 2012, ending 50 years of operation that began in 1962.