"Overseas transfer of KOR genomic data by China's Novogene"

"...cannot be regulated," says Rep. Lee Ju-young

"Located in the building of the Korea Association of Health Promotion·may have tenancy rights of utilizing Association-owned big data…poses threat to the national security"

Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong says, "It is confirmed to have a simple lease agreement…will look into the sharing of domestic genomic big data"

During the Parliamentary Inspection, Rep.

 

Lee Ju-young questioned the possibility of Novogene Korea transferring Korean citizens

Rep.

 

Lee Ju-young of the Reform Party pointed out an issue regarding Novogene, a Chinese genomics analysis company that established a branch in Korea, that the company has no genetic analysis equipment in Korea.

 

Rep.

 

Lee's concern is that Novogene's holding company, BGI, was globally reported in 2021 for allegedly collecting and sharing genomic data from over 8 million pregnant women across 52 countries with the People's Liberation Army.

 

This raises serious concerns regarding the export of domestic genomic information and poses a threat to national security.

 

Furthermore, Novogene Korea is located in a building owned by the Korea Association of Health Promotion, where the tenancy rights reportedly include the authority to use the Association's big data.

 

This suggests an increased risk that Novogene could directly pose a national security threat by exporting Korean citizens' genomic data.

 

Rep.

 

Lee suggests that the current 'Bioethics and Safety Act' does not regulate Novogene Korea's reporting, which has triggered these concerns.

 

She urged the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) to prepare responses.

 

Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun Kyeong stated that she would examine the facts regarding the sharing of domestic genomic big data between Novogene Korea and the Association.

 

On October 14, during the parliamentary inspection of MOHW, Rep.

 

Lee questioned Minister Jeong regarding the overseas export of domestic patient genomic data by Novogene Korea and the related threat to national security.

 

According to Rep.

 

Lee, Novogene Korea has not been registered as a genetic testing institution because the current law does not require such registration.

 

As a result, the company operates as a sales organization with only six employees without the necessary equipment for genomic analysis.

 

Rep.

 

Lee criticized this, arguing that it makes it inevitable that genomic samples collected domestically by Novogene Korea will be sent to the company's centers in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore for analysis.

 

It may be concluded that domestic biological genomic information is being exported.

 

Rep.

 

Lee said, "Institutions like Novogene Korea, which perform research and not testing for purposes defined by the Bioethics and Safety Act, are not subject to reporting as a genetic testing institution," and added, "The legislative gap or regulatory blind spot was created when the regulation mandating reporting for research-purpose testing companies was deleted in 2013." Rep.

 

Lee also pointed out, "Current law does not restrict the export of biospecimens for genetic analysis or limit the performance of genetic testing overseas," and added, "Even if there is a concern that genetic testing prohibited domestically might be carried out overseas or that domestic genomic information might be exported, there is no legal basis to sanction it." She further pointed out, "Novogene Korea is located in the Korea Association of Health Promotion building.

 

The arrangement appears to be a co-sharing lab model with the tenant.

 

The company has no equipment or personnel for genetic analysis or experimentation.

 

It has six employees, all of whom are administrative or sales staff, and the CEO does not even reside in Korea."

Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong promised to verify the allegation.

Rep.

 

Lee asked, "I requested the attendance of Novogene Korea's witness, but they submitted a statement of non-attendance.

 

The Association's national genomic big data is clean data of the Korean people.

 

It is highly valuable and risky if leaked, directly affecting the national security of the Republic of Korea.

 

When were you briefed on this?" Minister Jeong replied, "I received a report confirming that Novogene Korea and the Association have a simple lease agreement and no history of information sharing or joint research," and added, "We need to verify how the Association's big data is being shared." Minister Jeong further said, "I will verify the details of whether Novogene Korea receives requests for genomic information analysis from other Korean hospitals or institutions and then sends those samples overseas for testing."