Government Expands Investment in Core Bio Infrastructure... "Establishing a Data-Centered Scientific Quarantine System"

President Yoon Visits KDCA to Inspect Emergency Operations Center and Biobank

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The government is accelerating the establishment of a scientific quarantine system by introducing a supercomputer to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) in preparation for a possible COVID-19 resurgence as early as this summer.

The plan is to strengthen big data analysis and research related to quarantine using the supercomputer, build a national bio big data system to drive growth in the bio-health industry, and establish an independent infectious disease crisis response advisory body led by private experts to incorporate various opinions based on scientific evidence.

On the 26th, Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the KDCA, reported on the COVID-19 related infectious disease crisis response status, including these plans, to President Yoon Seok-yeol during his visit to the KDCA Emergency Situation Center in Osong, Cheongju, Chungbuk.

Advanced Data Analysis ... Emphasis on 'Scientific Quarantine'

The government plans to first introduce a supercomputer within the KDCA and secure experts specialized in infectious disease prediction models to enhance the collection and analysis of data, which forms the foundation of scientific quarantine. The goal is to strengthen the capacity to analyze various previously collected information to improve prediction accuracy.

Under the 14.4 billion KRW 'Artificial Intelligence (AI) Convergence New Infectious Disease Response System Project,' a multi-ministerial cooperative project led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) will purchase a supercomputer in the second half of this year, optimize it, and introduce it early next year. Previously, infectious disease outbreaks were predicted using mathematical models, but with the supercomputer, the plan is to develop more precise AI-based prediction models.

The KDCA also announced plans to collaborate with KIST, the Korean Mathematical Society, and others to conduct nationwide modeling, incorporate social and environmental variables, and simulate policy effects to support scientific quarantine. Currently, quarantine authorities refer to both external institution predictions and the KDCA's own forecasts when making policy decisions such as adjusting social distancing, and the aim is to strengthen this internal analytical capability.

For scientific quarantine, new information collection systems will be established, including wastewater-based infectious disease surveillance, COVID-19 antibody positivity rate surveys, and post-COVID-19 symptom investigations.

The government will also strengthen big data projects that link quarantine-related data from various agencies and share it with the private sector. By sharing diverse information with the private sector, joint research will be promoted, and an environment where the private sector can also propose policies will be created. Since 2020, the government has been conducting a pilot project to secure and share 25,000 medical records and whole genome sequencing data.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and KDCA are planning a preliminary feasibility study worth about 1 trillion KRW starting in 2024 to build a national bio big data system covering one million people, including those with severe and intractable diseases, cancer, and chronic diseases. While the bio-health industry has so far developed by utilizing high-quality human resources held by the National Central Human Resources Bank, this project will combine clinical information and whole genome analysis data to create bio big data. This will further activate the development of personalized disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment technologies for individual patients.

Major countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are also actively promoting precision medicine infrastructure projects using bio big data.

The KDCA explained, "The global competitiveness of biobanks comes from the ability to secure the maximum resources in a limited time," and emphasized the need to expand the biobank to a second facility capable of automated large-scale resource processing and high-speed handling. The total project budget of 18.4 billion KRW for the biobank expansion is planned to be secured next year.

New Private Advisory Body to Propose Scientific Quarantine Policies

A new infectious disease crisis response advisory body involving private experts will also be established. This advisory body will be independently operated, centered on private experts, and will provide diverse opinions based on scientific evidence.

Policy proposals from the advisory body will be reported to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), the highest decision-making body for quarantine policies. The CDSCH will review and coordinate with relevant ministries before finalizing and deliberating policies. The content of expert proposals and ministry review results will be disclosed on websites and other platforms.

Advisory body members will be selected either through academic society recommendations or based on verified academic achievements, with qualification criteria set to ensure representativeness and fairness. Although the previous administration operated the 'Daily Recovery Support Committee,' which included private experts in quarantine policy decisions, that committee also involved government ministries and was divided into four subcommittees covering quarantine medical care, economy and livelihood, socio-culture, and local safety. This structure hindered in-depth discussions and led to conflicts of interest and disputes.

The new advisory body differs from the Daily Recovery Support Committee in that it will present expert consensus opinions based on objective data to the CDSCH. However, participation by experts related to economy and socio-culture is also being considered for the new advisory body.

Jung Tong-ryong, Chief Coordinator of the Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters (CQCH), said, "I hope the advisory body will operate in a way similar to the World Health Organization (WHO) Crisis Response Committee, presenting expert consensus clearly in the form of recommendations." He added, "We plan to establish a system where formally proposed opinions are reviewed more officially within the CDSCH. This will be similar to the structure where the National Human Rights Commission issues recommendations and opinions to various ministries, and each ministry provides feedback, aiming for mutual feedback."

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