HIMSS and KHIDI Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Digital Healthcare Innovation in Korea

HIMSS and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate digital healthcare transformation in Korea. HIMSS President & CEO Hal Wolf and KHIDI President Soon-do Cha signed the agreement April 8, 2025, in Seoul, marking a significant milestone in Korea’s commitment to building a digitally advanced healthcare ecosystem.

With the global healthcare sector’s growing expectation of digital transformation, nations worldwide are investing heavily in technologies that improve accessibility, efficiency and quality of care. This partnership will adopt the HIMSS Digital health Indicator (DHI) as the Korean Medical Digital Maturity Assessment Model.

In Korea, digital maturity assessments have already been introduced in large hospitals to improve innovation and modernize their healthcare delivery. This partnership aims to expand those efforts to small and mid-sized hospitals, creating a more cohesive approach to digital advancement throughout the region.

The MoU establishes a joint initiative between HIMSS and KHIDI to develop a digital maturity assessment framework tailored to the Korean healthcare environment. The collaboration will also provide guidance on evaluation procedures and support healthcare facilities in enhancing their digital capabilities.

HIMSS President Harold F. Wolf III commented, “Through this partnership, HIMSS will leverage its global expertise to support strategies for advancing digital healthcare across Korea. By collaborating with KHIDI on digital health maturity assessments, we aim to assist Korea’s healthcare leaders and policymakers in making more informed investments, formulating future-ready policies, and delivering more equitable and efficient patient-centered healthcare services.”

The signing ceremony was attended by key figures including KHIDI President Dr. Soon-do Cha, MD, PhD, Biohealth Innovation Headquarters Director Mr. Tae-Kyun Song, Digital Health Business Division Director Mr. Kwan-ik Lee, HIMSS President & CEO Harold F. Wolf III, Board Chair Elena Sini, and Asia-Pacific Vice President and Managing Director Simon Lin, along with other officials from both organizations.

HIMSS, the world’s largest digital healthcare association, has collaborated with global leaders including the World Health Organization, the European Union, the UK’s National Health Service and various countries across Asia. This new MoU continues its legacy of supporting digital health transformation through global partnerships.

Through this initiative, an evaluation framework will be created to assess the digital capabilities of Korea’s healthcare system and benchmark it against global standards. The results will support future policy development and guide investments in digital health innovation.

Korean hospitals already recognized for their digital excellence through HIMSS assessments include Samsung Medical Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Asan Medical Center, and Seoul National University Hospital.