[New Year's Address] Oh Yukyung, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: "Driving K-Bio Growth Through Regulatory Innovation"

Emphasizing Three Core Strategies: Public Safety, Secure Daily Life, and Driving Growth
Approval Period for Biosimilars to Be Drastically Reduced from 420 to 240 Days
Strengthening Measures Against Illegal Online Distribution and Advertising with Introduction of AI Cops

Oh Yukyung, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, expressed her aspirations for the New Year of 2026, stating, "We will ensure public safety and a secure daily life, and drive industrial growth through regulatory innovation in food and drug sectors."

Eukyung Oh, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

In her New Year's address on January 1, Commissioner Oh reflected on the achievements of the past year, including laying the foundation for a comprehensive GMO labeling system, supporting the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, and enacting the Special Act on Regulatory Support for Biopharmaceuticals. She also presented three core strategies that the agency will focus on this year.

First, the Ministry will enhance the efficiency and accuracy of food safety management by introducing AI-powered risk prediction for imported foods and a system for detecting foreign substances in meat. In particular, through the 'Online AI Cops' initiative, the agency will swiftly block the illegal distribution of medical narcotics and fully ban AI-generated fake advertisements for doctors and pharmacists, thereby further strengthening the management of illegal online advertisements.

A robust safety net will also be established for vulnerable groups. The Ministry will support meal safety at social welfare facilities for the elderly and disabled in all cities, counties, and districts nationwide, and expand the provision of food information in sign language and audio formats for people with visual and hearing impairments. In addition, the government will directly supply treatments for rare and intractable diseases and strengthen the public production of essential medicines to guarantee patients' access to treatment.

On the industrial side, the regulatory threshold will be significantly lowered to enhance global competitiveness. The approval and review period for products such as biosimilars, which previously took 420 days, will be drastically shortened to within 240 days-the fastest in the world. Furthermore, the Ministry plans to support overseas expansion of K-Food, K-Bio, and K-Beauty by designing regulations that meet global standards, including halal certification support for foods, contract development and manufacturing for biopharmaceuticals, and safety assessments for cosmetics.

Commissioner Oh emphasized, "In the Year of the Blue Horse, we will achieve tangible results that the public can feel through tireless effort and continuous deliberation," adding, "By combining innovation with safety, the Ministry will provide reassurance to the public and drive growth."