Current status of AIDS in Korea

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New HIV/AIDS Report Status

In 2023, a total of 1,005 new cases were reported, including 749 Korean nationals and 256 foreigners
  • By gender, there were 903 males and 102 females, indicating a sex ratio of 9:1.
  • Among citizens, there were 718 males and 31 females, with males accounting for 95.8%, while among foreigners, there were 185 males and 71 females, with males making up 72.2%.
  • The age distribution shows that those in their 30s had the highest percentage at 35.4% (356 people), followed by those in their 20s at 28.7% (288 people), and those in their 40s at 15.7% (158 people), with individuals in their 20s to 40s accounting for 79.8% of the total.
  • Among citizens, the highest percentage was in the 30s at 33.6% (252 people), while among foreigners, the highest percentage was also in the 30s at 40.6% (104 people).
  • The reporting institutions included hospitals and clinics at 63.4% (637 people), public health centers at 28.3% (284 people), and others at 8.4% (84 people).

(Unit: persons)

Category, Overall, Ratio, / Foreigners Table
Category Overall Ratio Citizens / Foreigners
Citizens Foreigners
Gender Male 903 718 185
Female 102 31 71
Age 0-9 years 0 0 0
10-19 years 12 8 4
20-29 years 288 226 62
30-39 years 356 252 104
40-49 years 158 102 56
50-59 years 120 97 23
60-69 years 55 48 7
70 years and older 16 16 0
Reporting agency Hospitals and clinics 637 457 180
Public health centers 284 222 62
Others 84 70 14

2023 HIV/AIDS Domestic Status

As of 2023, there are 16,467 domestic HIV/AIDS cases, with 93.8% (15,448) being male and 6.2% (1,019) being female.

2023 HIV/AIDS Domestic Status by Gender and Age

(Unit: persons)

Category, Overall, Ratio, Citizens/Foreigners table
Category Overall Ratio Citizens/Foreigners
16,467 100 Citizens
(15,448명, 94.8%)		 Foreigners
(1,019명, 6.2%)
0~4 years 0 0.0 0 0
5~9 years 0 0.0 0 0
10~14 years 1 0.0 1 0
15~19 years 17 0.1 16 1
20~24 years 292 1.8 280 12
25~29 years 1,346 8.2 1,325 21
30~34 years 2,511 15.2 2,462 49
35~39 years 1,977 12.0 1,884 93
40~44 years 1,664 10.1 1,557 107
45~49 years 1,936 11.8 1,825 111
50~54 years 1,800 10.9 1,683 117
55~59 years 1,729 10.5 1,599 130
60~64 years 1,308 7.9 1,195 113
65~69 years 995 5.8 827 128
70 years and older 931 5.7 794 137
Excluded from the reported infections among nationals discovered from 1985 to 2023 are those reported dead, and there may be changes when correlated with the 2023 National Statistics Office's Cause-of-death statistics (announced in September 2024).

HIV/AIDS Management Indicators

Treatment Rate

  • Definition : The proportion of people diagnosed with HIV infection who are on antiviral medication
  • Source : Medical institution billing details (National Health Insurance Service), HIV/AIDS reporting status (Korea Disease Control Agency)
  • Calculation formula : The number of individuals with at least one medical record of antiviral therapy (ati-retroviral therapy, ART) prescribed by June of the following year among those billed for “HIV-related illnesses” divided by the number of living HIV-infected individuals for each year (Limitations) The denominator excludes the number of anonymously reported infections, while the numerator includes the number of anonymously reported infections. (Limitations) The survival status of individuals is limited to nationals, and the analysis of medical and treatment personnel is also based on nationals.

Viral Suppression Rate

  • Definition : The proportion of individuals on antiviral medication whose blood HIV viral load is suppressed below a certain level
  • Calculation formula : The number of individuals registered through the “Medical Institution Infected Person Counseling Project” whose RNA value from the last examination date of the reference year is less than 1,000 copies/mL* divided by the number of individuals registered with at least one RNA value through the “Medical Institution Infected Person Counseling Project” in the reference year. Basis: Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection. WHO(2016)

Calculation Results

Viral suppression rate (%)
Year Number of living HIV-infected individuals Number of actual patients Number of actual treated individuals Treatment rate (%) Viral suppression rate (%)
2017 12,320 11,451 11,190 90.8 90.9
2018 12,991 12,338 12,129 93.4 93.0
2019 13,857 13,310 13,119 94.7 94.9
2020 14,538 13,934 13,766 94.7 96.9
2021 15,196 14,690 14,505 95.5 96.0

Treatment Rate and Viral Suppression Rate for HIV-infected Individuals

(based on nationals, December 20, 2022)

2017년부터 2021년까지 생존 감염인, 진료 실인원, 치료 실인원과 치료율·바이러스 억제율 추이를 보여주는 그래프
  • Living HIV-infected individuals: HIV-infected nationals reported each year since 1985, excluding those reported dead
  • Number of actual patients: The number of nationals treated for HIV/AIDS each year
  • Number of actual treated individuals: The number of actual treated individuals among nationals treated for HIV/AIDS each year who have at least one medical record of antiviral therapy (anti-retroviral therapy, ART) prescribed by June of the following year
  • Treatment rate: Number of actual treated individuals / Living HIV-infected individuals
  • Viral suppression rate: The number of individuals registered through the “Medical Institution Infected Person Counseling Project” whose RNA value from the last examination date of the reference year is less than 1,000 copies/mL* divided by the number of individuals registered with at least one RNA value through the “Medical Institution Infected Person Counseling Project” in the reference year
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