The pandemic experience clearly demonstrated that infectious disease crises are more than just health issues; they are critical factors that amplify social inequality and escalate international tensions. In a post-pandemic era overlapped by the climate crisis and geopolitical conflicts, the international community stands at a crossroads where it must reinvent infectious disease response as a long-term international cooperation agenda that supports peace and prosperity, moving beyond short-term crisis management. Against this backdrop, this session aims to reframe infectious disease crises through the lens of 'peace' in alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Health and Peace Initiative (GHPI).

Accordingly, this session will examine the strategic role of conflict-sensitive infectious disease prevention and response in restoring social trust and promoting sustainable peace. It will analyze the tangible achievements of international cooperation centered around the WHO, while highlighting the strategic contributions and middle-power leadership that the Republic of Korea has demonstrated in global health governance. Ultimately, by fostering multilateral cooperation among diverse stakeholders—including governments, international organizations, and civil society—this session seeks to derive forward-looking development paths to address health inequities in vulnerable states, effectively respond to future pandemic threats, and strengthen global solidarity.