Genome-based medicine in Korea: the Korea National Institute of Health infrastructure for precision medicine.

Abstract

Since the completion of the Human Genome Project, genome-based medicine has progressed from a predominantly research-driven endeavor to a field of increasing clinical relevance. In Korea, the Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH) has played a central role in the establishment of the necessary research infrastructure that supports the secure and responsible use of genomic and clinical data. These efforts have enabled the generation of comprehensive genomic datasets representative of the Korean population and, together with the Korea Biobank Array optimized for population-specific variants, have strengthened discovery-driven research and accelerated advances in disease gene identification and risk prediction. More recently, KNIH has expanded analyses based on whole-genome sequencing data to support clinical translation, enabling more comprehensive variant detection and facilitating the application of genomic information to disease diagnosis and precision medicine research. These national genomic resources provide an important foundation for improving the diagnosis and management of genetically mediated conditions, including pediatric kidney diseases, where early etiologic diagnosis can substantially influence clinical decision-making and long-term outcomes. Further strengthening of institutional and regulatory frameworks will be essential to support routine clinical implementation and maximize the public health impact of genomics in Korea.