Korea to Lead Global Discussions on Synthetic Biology Norms

Draft of OECD Recommendation to Be Prepared at the Korea-OECD Joint Workshop

The drafting of an OECD recommendation on global norms for synthetic biology-including responsible innovation, biosafety and biosecurity, and social engagement-is underway in Korea.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it will co-host the 'Korea-OECD Synthetic Biology Workshop' with the OECD at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Incheon from September 25 to 26.

On the 24th, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Incheon, Dongmyung Kim, president of the Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, delivered a greeting at the opening of the 'KSBB-AFOB Conference 2025' hosted by the Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering. The 'Korea-OECD Synthetic Biology Workshop' is held as a subsidiary event of this conference. Photo by Jonghwa Kim

The workshop will be attended by the OECD BioNano Convergence Technology (BNCT) Task Force Secretariat, government officials and representatives from related organizations in major countries such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Australia, as well as domestic experts from academia, industry, and research institutes. In total, more than 800 participants from eight countries are expected to attend.

On September 25, participants will share policy cases on responsible innovation in the field of synthetic biology from each country. On September 26, an in-depth closed-door discussion will be held to draft the OECD recommendation.

Synthetic biology is a core enabling technology that can drive innovation in a variety of fields, including pharmaceuticals, food, and energy, by designing and constructing DNA and cells. At the same time, it brings new challenges such as safety, biosecurity, and ethics, making international norms and cooperation urgently needed.

In response, the OECD has identified the development of a 'Recommendation on Responsible Innovation in Synthetic Biology' as a key task in its 2025-26 Programme of Work and Budget (PWB), and the draft of this recommendation will be prepared at the workshop held in Korea.

In April, Korea became the first country in the world to enact a 'Synthetic Biology Promotion Act,' establishing a legal foundation not only for supporting research and development, building and utilizing biofoundry infrastructure, and international cooperation, but also for safety management and fostering a responsible research environment.

This workshop is expected to serve as an opportunity for Korea to expand its central role in global discussions on synthetic biology norms, building on these legislative achievements.

Kim Sungsoo, Director-General for Basic Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "This workshop is an important starting point for Korea to share its experience as the first country to establish a legal foundation with the international community and to lead global governance."