Development and Application of an Infectious Disease Risk Assessment Framework for Mass Gatherings in the Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Objectives: This study outlines the development of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) infectious disease risk assessment framework for mass gatherings, highlights its key components, and examines its application to domestic mass gathering events.

Methods: Government-funded policy research reports, the risk assessment manual, and documentation from exemplary mass gathering risk assessments were reviewed to analyze the framework's development, key components, and application outcomes.

Results: The KDCA developed an infectious disease risk assessment tool for mass gatherings through a government-funded research project in 2024. This tool was subsequently integrated into standard operating procedures for preparedness and response to establish a national infectious disease risk assessment framework. Beginning in 2025, the framework has been applied to domestic mass gathering events. An analysis of two events involving iterative risk assessments demonstrated that deficiencies identified during the initial assessment were successfully addressed by strengthening education, hygiene and ventilation management, medical and response systems, and risk communication. These targeted interventions reduced the overall risk level to low or very low in the final assessment.

Conclusions: The Korean infectious disease risk assessment framework for mass gatherings provides a standardized approach for systematically assessing infectious disease risks and preparedness, identifying areas for improvement during event planning, and informing preparedness and response measures. Further application across diverse types of mass gatherings and evaluation of the association between assessment results and actual infectious disease events or response outcomes are warranted.