South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said on Wednesday it had announced the implementation of the 2026 exemplary laboratory safety management certification programme and started accepting applications.

The programme is a system under which the ministry certifies science and technology laboratories with strong safety management systems, safety activity standards and safety awareness. Participation has steadily increased since it was introduced in 2016, and 285 laboratories at 94 institutions obtained certification last year.

The ministry expanded the scale of awards this year. In addition to existing group awards for laboratories, it introduced 5 individual citations to recognise personal contributions by student researchers and others who helped spread a safety culture. The minister's commendations comprise 9 for laboratories and 5 for individuals, while the head of the National Research Safety Management Agency will award 11 for laboratories.

For laboratories preparing to obtain certification, the ministry will also run practical training sessions four times a year, site visits to top-rated laboratories 10 times a year and expert consulting.

Lee Jun-bae (이준배), director general for Future Talent Policy at the ministry, said he hoped many laboratories would join the programme so a voluntary safety management culture could take root at research sites.