Cheong "KCDC likely to conclude with sufficient organizational reinforcement" (Comprehensive)

President Moon Jae-in Orders Review to Strengthen KCDC Infectious Disease Response Capabilities... Organization and Budget Support Expected to Increase

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The Blue House stated that regarding President Moon Jae-in's directive to fully reconsider the plan to transfer the Infectious Disease Research Institute under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, "It seems that the conclusion will be made to ensure sufficient organizational reinforcement in line with the intention to strengthen the infectious disease response capabilities of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)."

Although it appeared that the reorganization of the KDCA from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) would enhance its functions by granting autonomy over organization and budget, when a plan to transfer some subordinate institutions under the Ministry of Health and Welfare was promoted, President Moon instructed a reconsideration to empower the KDCA as originally intended.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A key Blue House official told reporters on the 5th, "The core of the government's proposed legislative amendment is the promotion of the KCDC to an independent Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency." The KDCA will establish regional disease response centers, and the commissioner will have personnel authority. The budget can also be independently planned and used.

The Blue House official explained the original government plan, which involved transferring the National Institute of Health under the KDCA to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, while the Infectious Disease Research Center under the Ministry would expand into the Infectious Disease Research Institute, and expressed the intention to correct the problematic parts.

The Blue House official said, "(The original plan) had the purpose of integrating the Infectious Disease Research Institute with overall virus research and linking it with industry. Therefore, the transfer to the Ministry of Health and Welfare was considered appropriate," adding, "There were differing opinions from some experts and the media, and after comprehensive deliberation by the President, a policy decision was made that a full reconsideration is necessary."

In particular, the Blue House official emphasized, "It was not a formal review but a directive for a full reconsideration."

Earlier, Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok stated, "President Moon Jae-in has instructed a full reconsideration of the plan to transfer the National Institute of Health, which is a subordinate institution of the KCDC, and the Infectious Disease Research Center, which is being expanded into the Infectious Disease Research Institute, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare."

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