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HOME > Osong Public Health Res Perspect > Volume 16(2); 2025 > Article
Editorial
 The Republic of Korea’s post-COVID-19 pandemic preparedness: it is time to assess the progress of pandemic preparedness
Jong-Koo Leeorcid
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives 2025;16(2):91-93.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2025.0132
Published online: April 29, 2025

National Academy of Medicine of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Corresponding author: Jong-Koo Lee National Academy of Medicine of Korea, 51 Seochojungang-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06654, Republic of Korea E-mail: docmohw@snu.ac.kr
• Received: April 21, 2025   • Accepted: April 23, 2025

© 2025 Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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In May 2023, the Korean government announced strategic priorities as part of its mid- to long-term preparedness plan for future infectious disease pandemics. Drawing lessons from the H1N1 influenza and Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreaks, this plan emphasized the need to build advanced response capabilities to prevent future outbreaks from escalating into national security threats. Rather than perceiving the conclusion of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as the end of infectious disease risks, the government expressed its commitment to securing essential medical countermeasures—such as vaccines—within 100 to 200 days of an outbreak onset. Additionally, it plans to establish a scalable response system capable of handling up to 1 million daily cases and implement enhanced protections for vulnerable populations to minimize critical illness, mortality, and health inequities. To operationalize these objectives, the government's approach is structured around 5 core pillars (surveillance and prevention, preparedness and response, infrastructure, recovery, and research and development) mapped onto 10 detailed initiatives [1].
At the international level, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a series of legal and operational reforms aimed at strengthening global health security. In November 2022, WHO established the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) to revise the IHR (2005). Following 8 rounds of negotiations, the agreed draft was submitted at the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024 and is expected to enter into force without a vote in June 2025 [2]. Complementing the IHR revisions, WHO member states also reached a draft consensus on a Pandemic Agreement after more than 3 years of negotiations under the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body. This is new international legal instrument under the WHO Constitution, and is designed to enhance global collaboration on the prevention, preparedness, and response to future pandemics [3].
In parallel with these legal frameworks, there has been progress in the development of medical countermeasures for priority diseases. Notably, preparations are underway for the possible human transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1. The Republic of Korea has increased its preparedness for highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1. First identified in Guangdong, China, in 1996, H5N1 has caused significant outbreaks among poultry and wild birds worldwide. The emergence of the 2.3.4.4b variant since 2020 has expanded its host range to include mammals such as cats, minks, cattle, and marine mammals. Although human infections remain rare, asymptomatic cases have been reported, and the possibility of sustained human-to-human transmission cannot be excluded [4]. In the Republic of Korea, H5N1 was first confirmed in 2003, with additional data on wild and domestic animals recorded during the 2024–2025 season. Notably, this includes a 2023 outbreak among cats at a Seoul animal shelter and a confirmed case in a wild leopard cat in 2025. The government has responded by prioritizing surveillance of high-risk groups, stockpiling antivirals and personal protective equipment, and offering seasonal influenza vaccines to frontline workers. Concurrently, the development of mRNA vaccines against H5N1 is underway, aiming to facilitate mass vaccination within 100 days if needed [5]. Another emerging threat is Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which has been reported in over 110 countries since its initial detection in Tanzania in 1952. Recent large-scale outbreaks have been linked to viral adaptation to Aedes mosquitoes. As of 2025, La Réunion has reported more than 20,000 cases, with local transmission confirmed in Mauritius and Mayotte [6]. These trends underscore the necessity for robust evidence regarding vaccine efficacy and deployment to effectively support international public health responses.
The Republic of Korea has adopted a 2-track approach to vaccine development. For diseases such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus, and Hantaan virus, the goal is to develop domestic vaccines. Conversely, for diseases with lower domestic prevalence—such as Lassa fever, dengue, Nipah virus, and Chikungunya—the country plans to collaborate with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and other global partners [7].
However, recent political and institutional instability threatens to undermine these efforts. Prolonged medical-professional disputes following the announcement of increased medical school quotas have led to mass withdrawals of students and residents, raising concerns that medical research and development capacity could be set back by a decade. Funding cuts prompted by public backlash against alleged research cartels have further strained the Republic of Korea’s research infrastructure, contributing to an exodus of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent toward the medical field. The situation was exacerbated by the impeachment of the president and a freeze on medical school enrollments in 2026, casting doubt on the future direction of the Republic of Korea’s health system reform and biomedical innovation.
In light of the imminent implementation of the IHR amendments and the anticipated adoption of the Pandemic Agreement, this moment presents a critical opportunity to reassess the Republic of Korea’s 2023 commitments. A renewed national review is essential to evaluate the progress of implementation and to formulate alternative strategies that ensure resilience and readiness for future global health threats.

Ethics Approval

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

Jong-Koo Lee has been the editor-in-chief of Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives since October 2021.

Funding

None.

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      The Republic of Korea’s post-COVID-19 pandemic preparedness: it is time to assess the progress of pandemic preparedness
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