(Dec. 1, 2025, Gyeonggi-do, Rep. of Korea) Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK) awarded the 2025 Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) Commendation for Excellence in Biosecurity Management at the 2025 Bio Industry Day ceremony held on November 28.

The commendation officially rewards institutions with outstanding biological agent security management based on regular and unscheduled inspections conducted over the past three years.
As an institute conducting infectious disease research and handling high-risk pathogens, IPK considers biosecurity an essential element for ensuring the safety and reliability of its research and has continuously managed its biosecurity systems with great rigor.

This award recognizes IPK’s efforts to strengthen biological agent security by revising relevant biosecurity regulations and guidelines, as well as the IPK’s robust and sustained activities contributing to the implementation of the Act on the Control of the Manufacture, Export and Import, Etc. of Specific Chemicals and Chemical Agents for the Prohibition of Chemical and Biological Weapons.

In line with updated guidelines, IPK designated security officers, reinforced physical, personnel, and information security, and revised its emergency response system. IPK has also enhanced its level of biosecurity through continuous CCTV monitoring and rigorous pre-review and approval procedures for access to Biosafety Level-2 Laboratories (BSL-2) and Biosafety Level-3 Laboratories (BSL-3).

In addition, IPK actively operates its Biosafety Committee to manage biosecurity risks. It also provides internal training for personnel handling biological agents using educational materials from relevant legislation and the Biological Weapons Convention information network. IPK offers tailored practical training not only for new users of BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities but also for external workers such as maintenance staffs, thereby promoting safety and professionalism across its research environment.

Building on this expertise, IPK has been operating the Virus Research Resource Center (RRC) since last year, further strengthening its biosecurity management capabilities. Established with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the RRC serves as an open laboratory that supports high-risk infectious disease research and development for researchers from academia, industry, and institutions. The center provides the access for BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory facilities, Animal Biosafety Level-3 Laboratories (ABSL-3), and research resources such as specimens and pathogens. It also offers professional-level training to ensure that researchers can safely conduct infectious disease research, contributing to the creation of a secure research environment.

IPK has consistently been recognized for excellence in related fields, receiving several government honors, including being ranked top in Laboratory Safety by the Ministry of Education and Science Technology in 2009, awarded for Outstanding Biosafety Management by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2013, awarded a Commendation for Contribution to Biosecurity Management by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy in 2019, and recognized as an Excellent Institution for LMO Safety Management by the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2021.

Sung Key Jang, CEO of IPK, stated, “As a specialized infectious disease research institute, IPK is committed to rigorously managing the entire biosecurity lifecycle while strengthening biosecurity awareness through comprehensive risk management and professional training for researchers.”