A Study on the Legal Improvement for the Crisis Management of New-Infectious Diseases: Focused on the revision of the Act on the Prevention and Management of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

The MERS hit the South Korea served as a turning point in the crisis management response system on infectious diseases. In South Korea, about 80 kinds of legal infectious diseases are controlled under the “Infection Disease Control and Prevention Act.” This study examined improvement with an aim of managing crisis of new infectious diseases mainly focusing on prevention of infectious diseases. As part of establishing an effective and efficient crisis management system of infectious diseases, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had established a complete control tower in well preparation for a possible outbreak. In terms of prevention and response, an article on punishment is revised such as the enactment of prevention act for new infectious diseases spread from foreign countries and disinfection. In terms of response and restoration, there is a capacity-building for crisis and communication in response to infectious diseases. New infectious diseases will continue to appear. In responding to the uncertain change, a government-wide crisis management system should be reinforced in an effort to prevent further incoming and transmission of new infectious diseases into the society.