IVI and the Republic of Korea
Member State Relations
On 28 October 1996, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations signed the IVI Establishment Agreement.
On 17 December 1996, the Government of the Republic of Korea ratified the Agreement.
IVI Funder
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency contributes up to 30% of IVI’s institutional funding.
Host Country Agreement
On 7 January 1999, the Government of the Republic of Korea promulgated the IVI Headquarters Agreement, formalizing its role as host country.
Korean text of the IVI Headquarters Agreement:
https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/trtyBInfoP.do?trtySeq=1144&chrClsCd=010202
English text of the IVI Headquarters Agreement:
https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/trtyBInfoP.do?trtySeq=1144&chrClsCd=010202
Korean Leadership at IVI
IVI Senior Leadership: Korean leadership at IVI includes Dr. Manki Song, Deputy Director General of Science, and Mr. Kyung Taik Han, Deputy Director General of Government and Public Relations.
Board of Trustees: The Government of the Republic of Korea is represented on the IVI Board of Trustees by Dr. Dokeun Kim, Director General of the Center for Vaccine Research at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and Mr. Won-seok Choi, Director General of the International Organizations and Nuclear Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Global Council: The Government of Korea is represented by Dr. Yoo-Kyoung Lee, Director, Division of Vaccine Development Coordination, at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Advisory Bodies: Mr. Jin Park, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, serves on the Global Advisory Group of Experts, and Dr. Jae Myun Lee serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Group.
Regional Office / Country Presence
IVI is headquartered at Seoul National University, where its laboratories and biorepository—generously funded by the Government of Korea—are located, along with a branch laboratory in Andong, Gyeongbuk Province.
Key Areas of Collaboration
Since its establishment in Seoul in 1997, IVI and the Republic of Korea have built a longstanding partnership to advance vaccine innovation, strengthen health security, and expand access to life-saving vaccines worldwide.
Scientific Collaboration and Innovation
IVI works closely with the Korean government and research institutions, including KDCA/KNIH, academia, industry, funders such as the RIGHT Foundation, and global partners to advance vaccine innovation and equitable access.
Through these partnerships, IVI strengthens Korea’s vaccine research and development ecosystem and advances scientific collaboration on global public health priorities.
Technology Transfer and Product Development
IVI plays a key role in transferring vaccine technologies and supporting product development with Korean manufacturers.
Through collaboration with EuBiologics, IVI contributes to the development and global deployment of WHO-prequalified oral cholera vaccines, supplied through international procurement mechanisms to support outbreak response and prevention efforts worldwide.
IVI partnered with SK bioscience in the development of a WHO-prequalified typhoid conjugate vaccine and works with other Korean partners to support global clinical development activities for additional vaccine candidates, including COVID-19 vaccines.
Health Security
IVI strengthens Korea’s preparedness for infectious disease threats through research, laboratory networks, and pandemic preparedness activities.
Together with Korean partners, IVI participates in international initiatives to advance vaccine evaluation and epidemic preparedness. IVI supports the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, and collaborates with government, academic, and industry partners to strengthen national and global health security.
Capacity Building
IVI supports the development of scientific, regulatory, and manufacturing capacity in Korea and globally. Through professional training and technical capacity-building initiatives, IVI helps strengthen vaccine research, development, and manufacturing expertise. Training programs are delivered through the WHO-designated Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing (GTH-B), in collaboration with the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the GTH-B Support Foundation, supporting workforce development in low- and middle-income countries.
Development Cooperation
IVI works with the Republic of Korea and Korean partners to advance global health and development objectives through vaccine-based interventions.
In partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, IVI implements cholera prevention and control programs in Africa and Asia, combining vaccination campaigns with technical assistance, surveillance, and national planning efforts aligned with global strategies for cholera prevention and control.
IVI works with a range of Korean partners, including the Korea Support Committee for IVI and other organizations and individuals, to expand access to vaccines and strengthen public health capacity in low- and middle-income countries.