Yoon Jong-in, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is announcing the organizational restructuring plan for the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on the morning of the 3rd.
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) will be elevated to a "Cheong" (agency) status, independent from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and regional "Disease Response Centers" will be established under it. One additional vice minister position will be created within the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The first vice minister will be responsible for welfare, and the second vice minister will oversee health.
On the 3rd, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a legislative notice for a partial amendment to the Government Organization Act containing these details. The newly established Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will independently manage its budget, personnel, and organization, and will carry out policies and execution functions related to infectious diseases. This is expected to enhance the expertise and independence in infectious disease policy decisions, establish a rapid decision-making system, and strengthen the government's infectious disease response capabilities.
Currently, various investigations, research, and projects related to disease control and health promotion, which are conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency under delegation from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will also be promoted as the exclusive authority of the new agency. This is interpreted as an effort to strengthen expertise as a control tower for infectious disease responses such as COVID-19. This organizational reform is the first in 16 years since the expansion and reorganization from the National Institute of Health to the current Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in 2004.
However, even for infectious disease-related tasks, functions that require inter-ministerial cooperation or are closely related to the health care system will continue to be handled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for efficient task execution. Additionally, in crisis situations where infectious diseases spread nationwide and require whole-of-government efforts, the current system where the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency respond together will be maintained.
One additional vice minister position will be created in the Ministry of Health and Welfare, with the first vice minister responsible for planning, coordination, and welfare, and the second vice minister in charge of health. There have been many demands to introduce a multiple vice minister system as one vice minister had been overseeing tasks of different natures. The current Infectious Disease Research Center of the National Institute of Health will be expanded and reorganized into the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and regional "Disease Response Centers" (tentative name) will be established under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Jin Young, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "I ask for the National Assembly's special attention and active cooperation so that the partial amendment to the Government Organization Act can be promptly reviewed and passed," adding, "We will build a more solid infectious disease response system to safely protect the people from infectious disease crises that may arise in the future."
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