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South Korea Begins Enacting Subordinate Statutes for Synthetic Biology Promotion Act

동아사이언스· July 11, 2026

The South Korean government has officially launched an expert advisory group to draft the subordinate statutes for the Synthetic Biology Promotion Act, establishing a legal framework for the nation’s advanced biotechnology sector. This initiative follows the bill's passage in the National Assembly and aims to provide the systematic support necessary for fostering a future bio-economy. The development is significant for the synthetic biology market as it outlines the operational details for public biofoundries and safety management systems essential for industrial scaling.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced the commencement of the expert advisory group on June 12, 2025, to specify the enforcement decrees of the Synthetic Biology Promotion Act. This legislative foundation was initially proposed by Representative Choi Soo-jin of the People Power Party in September 2024 and received bipartisan support before passing the National Assembly’s plenary session on April 2, 2025. The Act is officially scheduled to take effect on April 23, 2026, marking a major milestone in South Korea's national strategy to lead in advanced biotechnology.

The first advisory meeting brought together a diverse group of experts from industry, academia, research institutes, and the legal community to review critical implementation issues. Key topics under discussion include the establishment and operation of public biofoundries, which are vital for automating and accelerating biological research. Additionally, the group is focusing on promoting the usage of synthetic biology research data and creating specific guidelines for research and development to ensure the sector's growth is both systematic and stable.

Beyond infrastructure, the subordinate statutes will address the establishment of a robust safety management system to ensure social acceptance and regulatory compliance. Kim Sung-soo, Director-General for Basic and Source Research Policy at the MSIT, emphasized that synthetic biology is a core technology for bio-manufacturing innovation and a tool for addressing global challenges like the climate crisis and health security. The government intends to use these statutes to strengthen industrial competitiveness while tailoring regulations to the unique characteristics of the synthetic biology field.

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