At a policy seminar where Korea's science community, agriculture sector and government gathered to discuss regulatory reforms for gene editing (GEO) technology, participants repeatedly said that "Korea has technological competitiveness but lags major countries in the speed of commercialization." They explained that while GEO is emerging as a core technology reshaping global agriculture and the bio market, Korea's legal classification and regulatory framework remain unsettled, leaving researchers, corporations and farmers all stuck at the threshold of industrialization.
On the 20th, Ko Sang-eok, a pig specialist veterinarian and head of Ballad Animal Hospital, said at a policy seminar held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, "What is more important than the technology is the speed of entering the industry," adding, "Korea is in a situation where it has practically not even started."
On the day, lawmaker Choi Su-jin of the People Power Party held a policy seminar on the theme of "Gene editing technology and regulatory innovation." ChosunBiz co-hosted it together with the Gene Editing Bioindustry Development Council. Gene editing, unlike genetically modified organisms (GMO) that insert foreign genes, refers to a technology that modifies parts of existing genes.
Director Ko cited the world's first pig resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) as an example, saying, "The United States has approved the commercialization of the pig, and major countries in Europe and Asia are also expected to approve it," and added, "Even if Korea starts now, it will inevitably be at least 10 years behind. At this rate, the domestic breeding stock (seed pig) market will become completely dependent on foreign corporations."
The situation is similar in crops. Choi Seong-hwa, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University, explained that vitamin D-fortified tomatoes being co-developed with Bayer are expected to be sold worldwide in 2028, but Korea classifies GEO as GMO, so both domestic cultivation and sales are banned.
Professor Choi urged regulatory improvements, saying that if the GEO industry opens, a market worth tens of trillions of won will emerge in food and essential goods. He added, "The biggest victims right now are farmers," and "Farmers have the opportunity to generate revenue with new varieties, but in Korea it is impossible even to plant GEO crops."
Lee Young-wan, deputy managing editor at ChosunBiz, pointed out that the current regulations fail to reflect the characteristics of GEO technology and bind it within the same framework as GMO. He said, "GEO is a technology that does not insert foreign genes," adding, "Managing it with the same regulations as GMO is ultimately a lazy approach of 'it is difficult and complicated, so leave it as is.'"
Lee said, "When the GMO controversy arose in the United Kingdom, scientists and the media participated to build a fact-based consensus structure," and added, "Because gene editing technology is essential to addressing the climate crisis, pandemics and aging facing humanity, Korea also needs social discussions based on accurate information."
In response, Han Seung-yeon, head of the Biotechnology Team at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "The government recognizes the reality that while research is ahead, industrialization is difficult," and added, "GEO, combined with Synthetic Biology and artificial intelligence (AI), has great potential to grow into a national strategic technology. Going forward, we will establish clear definitions and standards for GEO and seek improvements again based on scientific evidence and social consensus."
Choi Gwang-jun, director of the Bio-Convergence Industry Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, also added, "At the ministry level, we are continuously making efforts for reasonable improvements," and "We will do our best to produce alternatives agreed on through social consensus and communication, and alternatives based on science."