Strengthening National Essential Medicines Supply Stability...Boryeong, Ansan Campus Expand Korea's Largest Penicillin Production Base
Sep 11, 2025
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Oral penicillin antibiotics, designated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as a national essential drug in 2023, are items that have continued to raise supply chain concerns since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boryeong has previously served as the largest manufacturing base for oral penicillin in Korea, accounting for more than 60% of the consignment supply in Korea. With this expansion, production facilities will increase by more than 50% from 840 pyeong to 1,320 pyeong based on total floor area, and annual production capacity will more than double that of the previous one. This will further strengthen the stability of the supply of national essential drugs. The strength of the new penicillin facility is that it can produce the best products at home and abroad with facilities and quality control systems that meet global regulatory standards.
An official from Boryeong said "This expansion will introduce a system that reflects digital transformation elements and process innovation concepts, including automation of packaging processes."This will reduce the burden on workers and increase productivity and quality consistency at the same time, laying the foundation for a stable supply of essential drugs that protect public health."
Through this expansion, the plan is to lay the foundation for stable supply of penicillin even in emergency situations such as supply shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Boryeong explained that if the production capacity increases, the negotiating power of supply and demand of raw materials will be strengthened and the supply and demand sources will be diversified, so it will have a structure that can flexibly respond to fluctuations in demand such as seasonal and epidemic diseases.
Park Kyung-sook, head of Boryeong's production and quality division, said, `Essential drug production facilities are social infrastructure directly connected to people's lives,' adding, `Investment in Ansan campus facilities will serve as an opportunity to strengthen stable supply chains that protect people's health and to establish a sustainable system to produce and supply drugs without interruption under any circumstances.'
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
