Results of the 2025 Pan-ministerial Joint Exercise for Pandemic Response
Source: PubMed Central Open Access, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic demonstrated that responses led solely by public health authorities are insufficient to manage pandemic, highlighting the need for coordinated inter-ministerial collaboration and an integrated, whole-of-government response system. In response, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) developed a framework for pan-ministerial joint exercises for novel infectious disease response in 2024. This report evaluates the feasibility of the framework, analyzes its strengths and areas for improvement identified during implementation, and discusses implications for future pan-ministerial infectious disease preparedness exercises. objectives Methods This pilot exercise was jointly planned and implemented by the KDCA and the executing agency, the Infection Control Network. Conducted as a tabletop exercise, it was based on a scenario involving the emergence of novel coronavirus variant, “Omega.” The scenario progressed sequentially from the initial overseas outbreak through the recovery phase. Representatives from nine government ministries and agencies participated in discussions of ministry-specific response measures across each crisis phase. The exercise was evaluated through external experts’ assessments and participant satisfaction surveys. methods Results Participants discussed key government-wide response functions during an infectious disease crisis, including inter-agency roles and responsibilities, information sharing,
Abstract
Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic demonstrated that responses led solely by public health authorities are insufficient to manage pandemic, highlighting the need for coordinated inter-ministerial collaboration and an integrated, whole-of-government response system. In response, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) developed a framework for pan-ministerial joint exercises for novel infectious disease response in 2024. This report evaluates the feasibility of the framework, analyzes its strengths and areas for improvement identified during implementation, and discusses implications for future pan-ministerial infectious disease preparedness exercises. objectives Methods This pilot exercise was jointly planned and implemented by the KDCA and the executing agency, the Infection Control Network. Conducted as a tabletop exercise, it was based on a scenario involving the emergence of novel coronavirus variant, “Omega.” The scenario progressed sequentially from the initial overseas outbreak through the recovery phase. Representatives from nine government ministries and agencies participated in discussions of ministry-specific response measures across each crisis phase. The exercise was evaluated through external experts’ assessments and participant satisfaction surveys. methods Results Participants discussed key government-wide response functions during an infectious disease crisis, including inter-agency roles and responsibilities, information sharing, medical resource management, risk communication, and continuity of essential public services. Overall participation and inter-ministerial collaboration were rated highly. The mean satisfaction score across all evaluation domains was 4.35 points out of 5 (4.35/5.00), with the “exercise environment” receiving the highest score at 4.43 points (4.43/5.00). Participants reported improved understanding of inter-ministerial roles, decision-making processes, and coordination mechanisms. However, opportunities for improvement were identified in resource allocation, information sharing, and policy alignment. results Conclusions This 2025 pilot exercise demonstrated the practical feasibility of the pan-ministerial joint exercise framework developed in 2024. It represents the first comprehensive pandemic exercise jointly conducted by KDCA and multiple central government ministries. The exercise demonstrated that infectious disease emergency response is a whole-of-government responsibility requiring coordinated action across sectors, including education, public security, and environmental management. It also assessed the operational applicability of existing crisis management manuals and identified priorities for future improvement. Future exercises should expand institutional participation, incorporate diverse outbreak scenarios, be conducted regularly, and be linked to systematic post-exercise monitoring to strengthen national preparedness and response capacity for novel infectious diseases. conclusions