Apr 7, 2025
South Korea became the first country in the world to pass a comprehensive law to foster synthetic biology, positioning the emerging technology as a national strategic driver for innovation. Despite ongoing political tensions, lawmakers across party lines voted on Sunday to approve the “Synthetic Biology Promotion Act” during a plenary session of the National Assembly.
Synthetic biology involves editing genetic materials to alter biological functions and synthesize new living systems. The field has rapidly advanced due to breakthroughs such as CRISPR gene-editing tools and a steep drop in the cost of DNA synthesis. Applications include developing alternatives to petroleum-based materials as well as engineering microbes like E. coli and yeast to produce plastic, with expectations of designing artificial organisms and bio-systems in the future.
The scientific community has hailed the new legislation as a major step toward industrializing synthetic biology in Korea. Oh Min-kyu, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at Korea University, said in a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper that the law opens the door for Korea to tap into the global bio market, which is valued at 5,846 trillion won ($4 trillion). He described synthetic biology as a transformative force in biomanufacturing and an innovative technology with the potential to dominate the international bio arena.
Oh noted that major countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Japan are already investing heavily in synthetic biology as a core component of their national strategies. “It will completely change the paradigm of biology,” he said.
Global consulting firm McKinsey also pointed to synthetic biology as a rising core technology within the $4 trillion global bio market. The consultancy said that the field, like the internet, acts as an enabling technology with wide-ranging impacts across industries. As companies seek ways to manufacture superior products more sustainably and at lower costs, synthetic biology is gaining attention and sparking what some call a “bio gold rush.”
The newly passed law mandates that the Ministry of Science and ICT establish a basic promotion plan every five years. It also allows for the designation of specialized institutions to coordinate policy development and to serve as research and development hubs linking academia, industry, and research organizations. These measures are aimed at ensuring stable funding, nurturing professional talent, and securing a competitive edge in global markets.
“The legislation ensures continuous support for synthetic biology,” Oh said, emphasizing that Korea now has a legal framework to move ahead of other countries in this domain.
The act also notably includes provisions to support the creation and operation of public bio foundries, a core infrastructure for synthetic biology. Unlike traditional bio manufacturing that relies on manual experimentation, bio foundries automate and standardize design, prototyping, and production processes.
Synthetic biology is viewed as one of the most efficient and cost-effective approaches to producing bio-based products. The Korean government is currently investing 126.3 billion won to establish a standardized and automated “K-Bio Foundry” by 2029. According to Oh, such foundries can accelerate bio production by up to 30 times. He cited Moderna’s rapid global rollout of its mRNA vaccines as an example of what bio foundries can enable by allowing mass production of engineered strains.
Oh added that synthetic biology in Korea currently stands at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2, or the conceptual stage involving ideas and patents. Reaching TRL 9 - the commercialization stage - will take time but also means there is vast market potential yet to be captured.
He stressed the importance of maintaining momentum, saying, “This legislation must be the starting point for building synthetic biology into a key future industry.”
The Synthetic Biology Promotion Act will come into effect in 2026 after undergoing a Cabinet meeting and an official promulgation process. Minister of Science and ICT Yoo Sang-im said that the ministry would work closely with stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of subordinate regulations, policies, and guidelines. https://pulse.mk.co.kr/news/english/11284512