MFDS Forms ‘One Team’ to Support K-Pharmaceuticals’ Entry Into Thailand

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has formed a “Pharma-Bio One Team” bringing together government, public institutions and industry to support Korean pharmaceutical companies’ entry into the Thai market.

The MFDS said on the 16th that it held a Korea-Thailand pharmaceutical forum and other events in Bangkok on the 14th with the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

The forum was organized as part of the MFDS’ public-private joint initiative to support pharmaceutical market entry. The goal is to bring government, public institutions and industry together as a “Pharma-Bio One Team” to establish cooperation channels with Thai regulators and industry and support Korean companies’ entry into the local market.

After dispatching public-private joint support teams to Vietnam (2023), Indonesia (2024 and 2026) and Japan (2025), the MFDS sent one to Thailand this year. Thailand was selected based on its market potential as ASEAN’s third-largest pharmaceutical market and strong demand from Korea’s pharmaceutical industry to enter the market.

The support team comprised 28 members, including five from the MFDS, four from the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association and representatives of 10 Korean pharmaceutical companies preparing to enter Thailand.

About 120 representatives of regulatory agencies, government and industry from both countries attended the Korea-Thailand pharmaceutical forum on the 14th to share trends in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and opportunities for investment and research and development cooperation.

The MFDS and Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration introduced their respective drug approval systems, international cooperation and regulatory harmonization trends. Industry representatives shared their experience entering the Thai market and the latest industry technology trends, and explored opportunities to enter the market.

On the sidelines of the forum, the MFDS met with senior officials from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and Food and Drug Administration. They discussed ways to expand cooperation to improve mutual understanding of drug approval and review systems, as well as regulatory issues affecting Korean companies’ entry into the Thai market.

In particular, the MFDS requested information exchange on Thailand’s regulatory reliance system and the requirements and procedures for recognizing reference agencies. It also proposed expanding cooperation, including by strengthening the capabilities of regulatory professionals, drawing on its experience with listing on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Listed Authorities (WLA) list.

The MFDS also held a preliminary meeting with Korean pharmaceutical companies preparing to enter Thailand to hear about regulatory challenges they face during local approval and registration. Based on the discussion, it asked Thailand’s FDA to actively cooperate by providing regulatory information on detailed procedures and requirements and facilitating smooth communication with companies.

On the 15th, in conjunction with the Korea-Thailand Biohealth Partnership organized by KOTRA, the MFDS held one-on-one business consultations to help Korean companies identify specific business opportunities with Thai companies and buyers in exports and distribution, technology cooperation and other areas.

“Korea’s pharmaceutical regulatory capabilities have received international recognition, including through its WLA listing, while Thailand is also a major ASEAN market actively fostering its health care industry,” said Ahn Young-jin, director general of the MFDS’ Biopharmaceuticals and Herbal Medicine Bureau. “Starting with this forum and meetings between regulatory agencies, we will share regulatory experience, build trust and raise the level of cooperation between the two countries.”

“Thailand, which has fostered its medical tourism industry from an early stage, has recently seen growing demand for medical services and greater awareness of Korean health care, creating favorable conditions for Korean pharmaceutical companies to enter the market,” said Kim Jong-hyun, director of KOTRA’s Bangkok office.

“Thailand is a major Asian market with strong medical infrastructure and a solid pharmaceutical industry base. In close cooperation with relevant organizations, including the MFDS and KOTRA, we will actively support Korean companies’ entry into the local market and boost exports,” said Noh Yeon-hong, chair of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association.

The MFDS plans to continue expanding cooperation channels with regulatory authorities in major countries and address regulatory barriers faced by Korean pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking to expand overseas, supporting K-pharmaceuticals’ entry into global markets.