"African Swine Fever, This Is How Korea Stopped It"

Lee Jae-wook, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Attendance at the African Swine Fever International Conference

Introduction of Korea's Prevention and Quarantine Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Lee Jae-wook, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (photo), will attend the 'African Swine Fever (ASF) High-Level International Conference' held in Berlin, Germany, to share the Korean government's successful ASF prevention case with the world.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 16th, Vice Minister Lee will visit Berlin, Germany, on the 17th (local time) to attend the ASF High-Level International Conference and the 12th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Meeting held in Berlin.

The conference, themed "Global Spread of ASF and the Future of the Swine Industry," will be attended by agriculture ministers and vice ministers from Bulgaria, Canada, Australia, Asia, as well as the Director-Generals of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Unlike China and Vietnam, where ASF is spreading nationwide, Korea has been recognized for successfully blocking the spread to other pig farms after the first ASF outbreak in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in September last year, and for its early quarantine efforts. Although infection cases continue in wild boar carcasses, no additional ASF infections in domestic pigs have been reported to date. In recognition of these achievements, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs received the highest grade, S, in the 2019 government performance evaluation.

At this conference, Vice Minister Lee plans to introduce Korea's ASF preventive measures and the key quarantine actions that enabled the containment of ASF spread among farmed pigs within a short period. Given that ASF continues to be detected in wild boars, he will also emphasize maintaining a vigilant and thorough quarantine posture and the national effort to achieve early eradication of ASF.

Vice Minister Lee will also meet with Monique Eloit, Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to share recognition of the need for international cooperation in combating the unprecedented global spread of ASF. They will exchange views on the quarantine policies of countries like the Czech Republic, which have been successful in ASF control, as well as Korea's ASF prevention experience.

Following the ASF High-Level International Conference, he will attend the Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Meeting on the 18th. At the general assembly, Vice Minister Lee will introduce Korea's status of official development assistance, including food aid to enhance global food security and improve nutritional status. He will also emphasize the necessity of international cooperation to respond to animal diseases such as African Swine Fever.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.