According to the plan, South Korea will establish the necessary infrastructure for CSF eradication by 2027. One of the key measures will be the replacement of the current CSF vaccine with a new marker vaccine — a special type that allows authorities to distinguish vaccinated animals from those naturally infected. The use of this vaccine will begin next year.
In addition, the Ministry plans to carry out detailed examinations of at least 25,000 pigs annually on farms across the country to detect possible infections at an early stage. The effectiveness of these efforts will be reviewed between 2028 and 2029, after which, in 2030, South Korea will apply to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) for official recognition as a CSF-free country.
Simultaneously, the government is working to reduce the incidence of PED and PRRS by introducing a farm-level vaccination management system and strengthening disinfection inspections across livestock facilities.
A key innovation in the strategy is the implementation of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based early disease detection system, which will help authorities promptly respond to potential threats to herd health.
According to ministry official Kim Jung-wook, the successful eradication of CSF and reduction of endemic swine diseases will provide a strong foundation for the further development of South Korea’s pork industry.
“If Korea succeeds in eliminating Classical Swine Fever and minimizing other diseases, it will pave the way for pork exports and serve as a major boost for the entire industry,” he said.
Through this initiative, South Korea is adopting a scientifically grounded, technology-driven approach to animal health management, aiming to become one of the first countries in Asia to achieve complete eradication of CSF.
PigUA.info based on koreatimes.co.kr