October 28, 2020, SEOUL, Korea — The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) received an award by the Minister of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea for achievements in biosafety management.
IVI was honored with the Minister of Health and Welfare Award for achievements in biosafety management that was presented at the 2020 Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Biosafety Management Award Ceremony on October 22. The institute was the only organization that received the minister’s award.

Dong-kyo Yang, Director General of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Immunization, presents a plague of commendation to Dr. Kyung Min Lee of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). (Photo=Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)
The biosafety management award is given annually at the ‘Korean Biological Safety Association Conference’ to raise awareness about biosafety and biosecity. It aims to recognize and reward institutions and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional achievements in protecting the nation and the public from the dangers of high-risk pathogens and genetically modified organisms.
IVI received this award in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the operation and safety management of its biosafety facilities, including biosafety level 3 (BL3) laboratories, and its excellent handling and safety management of high-risk pathogens.
Dr. Manki Song, Deputy Director General of IVI’s Science Unit, said, “IVI has been recognized for its excellence and outstanding capabilities in biosafety management through an award from the Minister of Health and Welfare of Korea. IVI will continue to make every effort to ensure biosafety going forward to increase our contributions to the development of vaccines in Korea and around the world.”
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About the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is a nonprofit inter-governmental organization established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, IVI was the first international organization hosted by Korea. IVI has 36 signatory countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) on its treaty, including Korea, Sweden, India, and Finland as state funders.
Our mandate is to make vaccines available and accessible for the world’s most vulnerable people. We focus on infectious diseases of global health importance such as cholera, typhoid, shigella, salmonella, schistosomiasis, Group A Strep, Hepatitis A, HPV, TB, HIV, MERS, COVID-19, as well as antimicrobial resistance. For more information, please visit https://www.ivi.int
CONTACT
Soyeon Park, Korean PR & Communications Associate
+82 02-8811-217 | soyeon.park@ivi.int