Fostering the Radiopharmaceutical Industry... Jeonbuk Bio Alliance Forum

Exploring strategies to link research, production and commercialization
Building a hub in Jeongeup, leveraging its strong industry infrastructure

Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province has set out to foster the radiopharmaceutical industry, building on Jeongeup's radiation research infrastructure and the province's biotechnology capabilities.

Jeonbuk State held the “2026 Jeonbuk Bio Alliance Forum” at the JB Financial Group Aureum Campus in Jeongeup on the 19th, discussing strategies to advance the radiopharmaceutical industry and plans to establish a K-Radiopharma industry hub. Photo courtesy of the Jeonbuk State Government.

On October 19, the province held the 2026 Jeonbuk Bio Alliance Forum at the JB Financial Group Aurum Campus in Jeongeup to discuss strategies for developing the radiopharmaceutical industry and plans to establish a K-radiopharma industry hub.

About 100 people attended, including Jeonbuk Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Lee Jiseong; officials from Jeongeup City, the Advanced Radiation Technology Institute of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, universities and biotechnology companies; and experts from Korea and abroad.

The forum was held under the theme “The Future of Jeonbuk's Advanced Biotech Industry, Opened by Radiopharmaceuticals.”

Radiopharmaceuticals are medicines that use radioisotopes to diagnose or treat diseases. They are used in diagnostic imaging to identify the location and condition of diseases, including cancer, and in treatments that target cancer cells.

As theranostics, which links diagnosis and treatment, and targeted therapies using radioisotopes attract growing attention, the importance of securing related research and production facilities and specialized personnel is also increasing.

At the forum, Jeong Byeongyeop, director of the Advanced Radiation Technology Institute at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, delivered a presentation titled “Jeongeup's Radiopharmaceutical Industry Foundation and Jeonbuk's Biotechnology Development Strategy,” outlining ways to leverage the region's research infrastructure and directions for industry development.

Professor Choi Haksu of Harvard Medical School introduced next-generation theranostics technologies and the future of the radiopharmaceutical industry. Professor Jeon Jongho of Kyungpook National University discussed examples of radiopharmaceuticals used in diagnosis and treatment, as well as recent technological trends.

Kim Jongwoo, vice chairman of DuChemBio, presented business strategies for the global radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) market and the conditions needed for industry growth. He shared a corporate perspective that considers not only research and development but also the actual production of medicines and entry into the market.

At the subsequent panel discussion, Lee Byeongcheol, president of the Korean Society of Radiopharmaceuticals, moderated a discussion with experts from research institutions, companies, academia and clinical practice on the tasks involved in establishing an industry hub. Key topics included ▲strengthening radiopharmaceutical research and development capabilities ▲expanding production infrastructure ▲securing specialized personnel in related fields ▲establishing a cooperation framework among industry, academia, research institutions and government.

Based on expert opinions shared at the forum, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province plans to link Jeongeup's radiation research capabilities with corporate investment and continue building a radiopharmaceutical industry ecosystem.

Jeonbuk Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Lee Jiseong said, “This forum is an important starting point for fostering the ecosystem of the radiopharmaceutical industry, which was recently selected as one of the growth engines for the ‘Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces’ initiative. We will bring together industry, academia, research institutions and government so Jeonbuk can grow into a strategic hub for the radiopharmaceutical industry.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.