South Korea Clarifies Statutory Functions of KAERI Radiation Injury Treatment Hospital
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) announced on August 24 that the National Assembly had passed a partial amendment to the Act on the Promotion of Radiation and Radioisotope Utilization at its plenary session on August 20, incorporating the functions of a radiation injury treatment hospital, along with supporting research and technology development, into the institute's statutory scope of business. Under the amendment, relevant institutions will provide specialized medical services to individuals who have sustained radiation injuries or are at risk of such injuries. Radiation injury generally refers to health abnormalities in the human body resulting from excessive exposure to radiation. Such injuries may not manifest immediately after exposure; even when early symptoms appear only as skin redness, they can later progress to ulceration, necrosis, and affect the blood or bone marrow systems. Some individuals also require long-term follow-up to monitor for delayed health risks such as cancer.
2026-08-24
