To bolster the nation's response to infectious diseases, the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), an affiliate of the Health and Welfare Ministry, will be promoted to a central administrative organization under the name Disease Control and Prevention Administration. The photo shows the ministry building at Government Complex-Sejong in Sejong. (Yonhap News)

By Xu Aiying and Yoon Sojung 

To bolster the nation's response to infectious diseases such as the coronavirus, the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare will be promoted to an independent administrative agency under the name of the Disease Control and Prevention Administration (DCPA).

The Ministry of Interior and Safety on June 3 made a pre-announcement of partial revisions to the Government Organization Act related to the Health Ministry and the KCDC.

This organizational reform is based on a speech made by President Moon Jae-in on May 10 to mark the third year of his administration. The aim is to build the KCDC into a truly national control tower that fights disease to make Korea a safer country.

The new organization will independently manage its budget, personnel affairs and organization, and have the power to devise and implement policy and measures toward infectious diseases.

It is expected to have higher expertise and autonomy in devising policy toward infectious disease response, and this is expected to boost the government's capacity to respond to outbreaks.

To strengthen the disinfection capabilities of regions across the country, response structures for each area will be provided.

The DCPA will build branches for disease response nationwide to perform clinical tests in regions and regularly conduct disease research and analysis to support disinfection capacity throughout the nation.

xuaiy@korea.kr