[New Year's Address] Commissioner Seungkwan Lim of KDCA: "Innovating Disease Control with AI... Advancing Infectious Disease Response"

Expansion of HPV Vaccination for Boys
Promotion of Climate Health Impact Assessment

Seungkwan Lim, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, announced his New Year's vision to innovate disease control services using artificial intelligence (AI) in the new year and to advance the nation’s preparedness system for future pandemics.

Seungkwan Lim, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is explaining the major policy implementation plans for 2026 at the Ministry of Health and Welfare briefing room in the Government Complex Sejong on the 16th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

In his New Year's address on January 2, Commissioner Lim stated, "Last year was a meaningful year in which the Agency was globally recognized for its public health security capabilities as a partner in the everyday health of the people," and declared, "In 2026, we will vigorously pursue four key tasks with the goal of a healthy population and a safe society."

Commissioner Lim first highlighted the elevation of Korea's public health status as a major achievement of the past year. In August of last year, the Agency was officially recognized for possessing world-class health security capabilities through the Joint External Evaluation by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Significant progress was made in securing 'bio-sovereignty' by supporting clinical trials for a domestically developed COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and commercializing the world’s first recombinant protein anthrax vaccine, thereby shifting the vaccine system from complete reliance on imports to domestic production. In the field, the number of patients with major endemic infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) decreased compared to the previous year. Additional achievements included expanding medical expense and special dietary support for patients with rare diseases and securing a budget for the rare disease registration program.

Commissioner Lim identified the advancement of the infectious disease crisis response system as the highest priority for this year. To respond to future pandemics effectively and efficiently, the Agency will rapidly identify key infectious disease information and establish social and medical response systems tailored to each crisis type. The plan is to establish a sustainable and efficient crisis response system across the entire cycle-from preparedness to response and recovery-based on accurate infectious disease data.

'Digital transformation' was also emphasized. Commissioner Lim explained, "Through four public AX (AI transformation) projects launched this year, we will establish AI-based work support and public service systems," and added, "We will drive policy innovation centered on scientific data based on big data in disease control."

In addition, the Agency will actively promote the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for adolescent boys and the expansion of influenza vaccination for adolescents. Furthermore, it will strengthen customized policies in response to rapid demographic and environmental changes. Commissioner Lim stated, "As Korea enters a super-aged society, we will respond swiftly to new health demands such as frailty and injury prevention, and further reinforce the management system for existing chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes."

Regarding the global challenge of the climate crisis, the Agency plans to conduct the second 'Climate Health Impact Assessment' this year to precisely identify the impact of climate change on public health and will pursue legislation to provide the legal basis for these efforts.

Commissioner Lim promised, "In 2026, we will listen even more closely to the voices of the people and respond with trustworthy policies."