Gangwon State named an outstanding institution for disaster response to livestock diseases; receives ministerial commendation

\ \ 【Financial News, Chuncheon = Kim Gi-seop】Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, which brought producer groups and military units into the effort and had civilians, government and the military jointly guard quarantine posts, was named an outstanding institution for disaster response to livestock diseases among metropolitan governments nationwide and received a commendation from the Minister of the Interior and Safety.
Gangwon State said on the 11th that it received a commendation as an outstanding institution in disaster response at the ceremony on the 8th at the Government Complex Seoul to present ministerial commendations for contributions to responding to livestock diseases in 2025–2026. The commendations were awarded after exemplary livestock disease-quarantine cases from the previous winter were reviewed in two categories—disaster response and quarantine policy—and a total of 42 exemplary cases nationwide were recognized.
Winter is a time when the risk of livestock diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African swine fever (ASF) rises as migratory birds arrive and temperatures fall. Concerns have long been raised that administrative resources alone have limits in preventing breaches, given that once a disease gets through, the damage to farms can spread uncontrollably.
A key reason the province received high marks was its integrated disease-prevention system, which pooled quarantine personnel and equipment. It used the quarantine resources of producer groups and military units to operate joint quarantine posts, establishing a system in which civilians, government and the military worked together. In effect, it made active use in its quarantine operations of Gangwon’s circumstances: its extensive border areas and military units stationed throughout the province.
There was also an award recipient from the private sector. Seo Nam-un, a manager at the Gangwon Pig Farming and Livestock Cooperative, also received a ministerial commendation for private-sector contributions for efforts to help prevent and control livestock diseases.
Park Yu-jin, head of Gangwon State’s Animal Disease Control Division, said, “This award came thanks to municipal and county officials, producer groups and military units working together on disease prevention at a single post. This winter, too, we will further strengthen the joint civilian-government-military quarantine system and protect residents by taking proactive measures, going to farms first.”

[email protected] Kim Gi-seop Reporter