An Expert in the Pharmaceutical and Bio Industries
with Extensive Experience in Academia, Research, and Administration
Oh Yukyung, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, stated, "As a ministry responsible for the safety of people's daily lives, we will remain vigilant and do our utmost to ensure the safety of food and pharmaceuticals for the public."
Commissioner Oh shared these remarks on June 29, immediately after the announcement that she would remain in her position under the Lee Jaemyung administration, saying, "I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility regarding my reappointment."
Commissioner Oh is recognized as an expert in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical and bio industries, with experience spanning industry, academia, research, and government. Born in 1965 in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, she graduated from the College of Pharmacy at Seoul National University in 1986 and from the Department of Physical Pharmacy at the same university's graduate school in 1988. She earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacy from the State University of New York in 1994. From 1988 to 1989, she worked in the Development Department of Boryung Pharmaceutical, and from 1996 to 1997, she served as a senior researcher in the Life Science R&D Division at SK Chemicals.
Afterward, she held various positions, including examiner in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, professor at CHA University School of Medicine, and professor at Korea University College of Life Sciences. In 2009, she joined Seoul National University College of Pharmacy as a professor. In July 2021, she attracted attention as the first female dean in the 106-year history of Seoul National University College of Pharmacy.
Commissioner Oh is a pharmacy expert who has pioneered the field of drug delivery research for more than 20 years, including the targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals such as anticancer agents. After being appointed as Commissioner, she has been credited with enhancing the competitiveness of Korea's pharmaceutical and bio industries by introducing expedited review and approval systems for new drugs. She also took the lead in enacting the "Digital Medical Products Act," which aims to systematize the approval and safety management of medical products incorporating advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Commissioner Oh was appointed as Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in May 2022 during the Yoon Sukyeol administration and has remained in office for more than three years as of now. Including her service during the period when the agency was an external bureau of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (prior to 2013), she holds the record for the longest tenure among all commissioners responsible for the safety of food and pharmaceuticals. There is no fixed term for the position of Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
▲ Born in 1965 in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do ▲ Boryung Pharmaceutical Development Department ▲ Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, USA ▲ SK Chemicals Life Science R&D Division ▲ Korean Intellectual Property Office Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division ▲ CHA University School of Medicine ▲ Associate Member, Korean Academy of Science and Technology ▲ Korea University College of Life Sciences ▲ Professor, Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University ▲ 29th Dean, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University ▲ President, Korean Society of Pharmaceutics ▲ 7th Chairperson, Korean Association of Pharmacy Education
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
