Press Release

[A summarized unofficial version of the press release]

Four Years of COVID-19: Lessons for the Next Pandemic

 - KDCA releases the White Paper on Korea’s COVID-19 Response, documenting its pandemic response experience.

 - The response timeline is structured into five phases, focusing on major events and policy transitions.

 - The White Paper lays the foundation for timely preparedness and a resilient response system for future pandemics.

Osong, April 22, 2025 ━ The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) published its White Paper on the COVID-19 Response on April 15, which systematically documents Korea’s response over the past four years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The White Paper outlines the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea and the government’s response, from the first confirmed case in 2020 to the lowering of the national infectious disease alert level to Level 1 (Blue, Attention) in May 2024. It is structured into five phases based on changes in response strategies, with a particular focus on the role of the Central Disease Control Headquarters.

Comprising three main parts—① an overview of COVID-19, ② the response process by phase, and ③ lessons learned and future directions—the White Paper is designed to help the public and relevant stakeholders clearly understand the key facts about COVID-19 and the government’s response timeline. It also presents the government's strategic direction for future pandemic preparedness.