Press Release

KDCA Officially Designated as WHO Collaborating Center for NCD Surveillance and Bigdata Utilization

 - Recognized for its expertise in health surveillance, KDCA has been designated as the ‘WHO Collaborating Center for NCD Surveillance and Bigdata Utilization.”

 - KDCA will continue to take part in efforts to strengthen global health cooperation by sharing its experience with Member Countries of Western Pacific Region.

Osong, 17 July 2025 ━ The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) held plaque unveiling ceremony to celebrate its designation as the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for NCD Surveillance and Bigdata Utilization on June 12.

* Operating period: May 2025 – April 2029 (Can be extended)

A WHO Collaborating Center is a specialized institution by sectors that the WHO designates to implement international health initiatives.

This is the first WHO Collaborating Center designation in the field of NCD surveillance for Korea. With this designation, KDCA now operates three WHO Collaborating Centers, including: 

* (March 2021) WHO Collaborating Center for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and One Health Research 

* (September 2024) WHO Collaborating Center for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Over the past two decades, KDCA has contributed to scientific evidence-based health policy establishment through various national health surveys such as Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), and Community Health Survey. Therefore, this designation holds a great significance showing that KDCA’s longstanding surveillance capabilities and expertise have been recognized by the international community.

<Official Name of the WHO Collaborating Center and Overview of Collaborative Tasks> * Official Name: WHO Collaborating Center for NCD Surveillance and Bigdata Utilization * Key Collaborative Tasks (Terms of References, TORs) ❶ Providing support to Member States in strengthening evidence-based monitoring and surveillance system for NCD prevention and control. ❷ Providing technical support to Member States in establishing and operating NCS monitoring system. ❸ Providing technical support to Member States in strengthening facility-based surveillance of NCDs. ❹ Strengthening capacity of Member States in health related big data analysis. techniques.

In collaboration with the WHO, KDCA will carry out various efforts, including:

① Sharing expertise and experience on developing and operating NCD surveillance systems with Member Countries, particularly with the Western Pacific Region.

② Providing technical support for health big data analysis and utilization

③ Undertaking a range of activities, including joint research, workshops, meetings, training sessions, and advisory roles.

At the plaque unveiling ceremony, Prof. Jong-koo Lee, Vice-president of National Academy of Medicine of Korea, and Dr. Sandro Demaio, Director of the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health delivered congratulatory remarks, expressing their hopes of KDCA to grow further as a leading agency in responding to NCDs.

KDCA Commissioner Dr. Seungkwan Lim stated, “This WHO Collaborating Center designation is a meaningful recognition of KDCA’s expertise and role not only in infectious diseases but also in NCDs by the international community, reinforcing our agency’s position as a key partner of the WHO.”

He added, “We will continue to engage in efforts to promote collaboration in global health by continuously producing evidence to support proactive strategies for NCD prevention and management in response to evolving health environment such as aging populations and climate change.”