KDCA Announces First National Injury Prevention and Control Plan to Build a Healthy, Injury-Free Society

- KDCA releases the First National Injury prevention and control plan (2026–2030), approved by the National Injury Prevention and Control Committee.

- Jointly developed with relevant ministries, the plan aims to prevent and control priority injury issues and injury risks across the life course.

Osong, 24 September 2025 –  The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on Wednesday, September 24, that it has finalized and released the First National Injury Prevention and Control Plan (2026–2030). Deliberated and approved by the National Injury Prevention and Control Committee, the plan defines the policy direction and tasks for national injury prevention and control over the next five years.

*This government-wide plan, established every five years pursuant to Article 6 of the Act on Injury Prevention and Control, outlines the goals, direction, and implementing strategies for injury prevention and control.

‘Injury’ refers to a physical or mental health problem, or its long-term consequences, caused by external risk factors such as accidents, disasters, or poisoning. In Korea, it is the fourth leading cause of death and the primary cause of hospitalization. Rather than being just an individual misfortune, injury places a heavy burden on society, resulting in increased medical costs, reduced productivity, and wider socioeconomic losses.

* Injuries ranked 4th among all causes of death in 2023 (Cause-of-Death Statistics, 2023).

** Among all disease categories, injuries accounted for the highest socioeconomic costs: KRW 21 trillion out of a total KRW 148 trillion (National Health Insurance Research Institute, 2017).

The plan was developed through extensive consultations beginning last year, involving 14 central ministries, experts, and academics from diverse fields.

Under the vision of “A Healthy, Injury-Free Society,” the plan sets forth five key strategies and 16 action plans designed to reduce injury-related deaths and hospitalization from unintentional injuries. 

Importantly, the plan adopts a full-cycle approach of prevention–response–recovery, going beyond reducing accidents. It is grounded in inter-ministerial collaboration and coordination between central and local governments to ensure national injury control.

* (Prevention) Reducing risks before injuries occur, (Response) Providing immediate intervention when injuries occur, (Recovery) Preventing long-term disability and supporting recovery

The National Plan was jointly established with 14 central ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The five key implementing strategies are:

1. Promoting injury-related research and surveillance

2. Strengthening prevention through risk factor control by injury mechanism

3. Implementing tailored interventions across the life course

4. Enhancing response and recovery systems 

5. Establihsing a sustainable infrastructure for injury prevention

KDCA Commissioner Dr. Seung-kwan Lim said, “Injuries are not random, unavoidable events in daily life, but preventable health issues. Through this National plan, KDCA will take on a new role in monitoring and coordinating policies fragmented across ministries from a public health perspective. By working closely with relevant agencies, we will build a prevention and control system that spans the entire process—from before injuries occur to after recovery.”