KDCA Commissioner Warns Another COVID-19-Scale Pandemic Inevitable

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Lim Seung-gwan stated that a global resurgence of infectious diseases like the COVID-19 pandemic “will definitely come at any time.”

Commissioner Lim responded this way on the 14th during a National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee audit, answering Democratic Party of Korea Representative Jang Jong-tae’s question, “Don’t you think another large-scale pandemic like COVID-19 will occur again?”

When Representative Jang asked, “Do you agree that we must prepare even more thoroughly for the next pandemic?” Commissioner Lim said, “That’s an important point.”

However, preparations for a pandemic remain insufficient. According to Representative Jang, the government established the “Mid- to Long-Term Plan for Preparing for a Large-Scale Epidemic of Emerging Infectious Diseases” in 2023 to build a medical system capable of handling up to 1 million daily confirmed cases. The plan aims to secure a total of 3,547 hospital beds by 2027, including 1,041 beds at infectious disease-specialized hospitals, 370 state-designated inpatient treatment beds, and 2,136 emergency treatment beds. However, as of August this year, only 1,210 beds had been secured, accounting for just 34% of the target.

The government announced plans to secure 410 specialized personnel for epidemiological investigations but has only secured 280 individuals so far.

Commissioner Lim stated, “We have a comprehensive plan for hospital bed resources, personnel, treatments, and vaccines,” adding, “Since my appointment, we have also launched a task force to prepare for and respond to infectious disease crises.”