National Institute of Health|About NIH|History

About NIH

History

UPDATE: 2025-03-27

We continue in our journey to promote the health and safety
of the people of Korea to ensure a brighter future.
We commit to fulfill our roles as a pivotal national research agency

to conquer disease and promote healthy lives and strive to
make today’s work part of a proud history.

2020s

2021Initiation of R&D for COVID-19 therapeutic agents and vaccines
2020. 09Foundation of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases
(3 centers, 12 divisions)
2020. 09Reorganization of the KNIH (3 departments, 14 divisions)

Vaccine Research Center (2020~)

2010s

2019. 10Foundation of the National Culture Collection for Pathogens
2018. 12Initiation of the construction of the Vaccine Research Center
2017. 05Reorganization into three centers, 19 divisions
2016. 10Establishment of the National Center for Stem Cell and
Regenerative Medicine
2014. 07Foundation of the Division of Allergy and Chronic Respiratory
Diseases and the Division of Medical Science Knowledge
Management
2014. 03Establishment of the National Center for Medical Information
and Knowledge
2012. 04Establishment of the National Biobank of Korea
2011. 06Accreditation and operation of special research laboratories
(BL3)

National Center for Medical Information National Center for Stem Cell and
Regenerative Medicine (2016~)

National Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine National Center for
Medical Information

2000s

2010. 11Relocation to Osong
2008. 04Foundation of the National Biobank of Korea
2004. 07Separation of the Center for health and welfare training, Korea Human Resource Department Institute for Health & Welfare
2004. 01Reformed and expanded into the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, KCDC Four centers, 20 divisions
2002. 03Foundation of the Central Genome Research Center
(Currently Department of Chronic Disease Convergence)

Korea National Institute of Health Korea National Institute
of Health (2010~)

National Biobank of Korea (2012~)

1990s

1998. 02Transferred the responsibilities for epidemic containment,
disease management, lifestyle health from the Department of health by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
1996. 06Department of special diseases launched
(Currently Department of Chronic Disease Convergence)
1996. 04Separation of the Food and Drug Safety Headquarters
(Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)

1980s

1981. 11Name changed from Korea National Institute of Health to National Institute of Health Department of Safety Research created

National Institute of Public Health
(1980~2010)

1970s

1978. 07Separation of the Department of Sanitation
(National Environmental Research Institute)

1960s

1967. 02Name changed to the Korea National Institute of Health
1963. 12Integration of the National Institute of Health, National Chemical Laboratories, and National Laboratory of Herbal Medicine into the Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH)

Korea National Institute of Health
(1963~1980)

1940s

1945. 07Foundation of the Joseon Health Research Institute

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Type 4 : Source Indication - Commercial Use Prohibition - Change Prohibition The works of the Ministry of Science and ICT can be used under the terms of "KOGL Type 4".