The National Agrobiodiversity Center (NAC), National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (NAS), and Rural Development Administration (RDA) distribute genetic resources and related information to users in the public and private sectors by collecting, preserving, regenerating and evaluating agricultural genetic resources.

Recently, NAC has been focusing on the collection to secure the diversity of agricultural genetic resources related to 'Low Carbon, Green Growth' and following up on international issues such as access, benefit sharing, and protection of intellectual property in agricultural genetic resources. In particular, NAC is strengthening international relations for genetic resources.

NAC has six laboratories (the Genebank Management Lab., Germplasm Bioinformation Lab., Cereal & Legume Germplasm Lab., Horticultural Germplasm Lab., Herbal & Medicinal Germplasm Lab., Long-Term Conservation Lab.) which are sharing and cooperating to achieve the NAC’s mission of 'ensuring the diversity of agricultural genetic resources', 'establishing the national management system', 'ensuring sovereignty', 'enhancing the utilization of genetic resources' and 'serving as a northeast hub bank for genetic resources'.

(1) Planning & Information

Carried out for the purpose of ensuring sustainable use of plant genetic resources, which can be done by collection of diverse plant genetic resources not only from inside but outside of the country also, secure conservation & management, development & practical use of cryo-preserving technique and following up the international issues such as the access and benefit sharing, protection of intellectual property on agricultural genetic resources.

(2) Plant Genetic Resources Management

Carried out for the purpose of ensuring the sustainable use of plant genetic resources, which can be achieved through the collection of diverse plant genetic resources not only from inside but outside of the country, and also, through secure conservation & management, development & practical use of cryo-preserving techniques, and following up on international issues such as access, benefit sharing, and protection of intellectual property in agricultural genetic resources.

(3) Plant Genetic Resources Evaluation

Carried out for the purposes of regenerating and evaluating plant genetic resources. Regeneration is very important for ensuring sustainable use of plant genetic resources, while evaluation is very important in enhancing the use of plant genetic resources. In this team, the field evaluation board is organized of experts on the relevant crops and operated to select useful accessions for early application.

(4) World Seed Vault

The National Agrobiodiversity Center is currently hosting safety backup collections from other countries after establishment of MOU between RDA and FAO/GCDT on August 14. 2008 to ensure the long-term conservation and availability of plant genetic resources with a view to achieving global food security and sustainable agriculture. The safety back up of germplasm collections from other countries will be done free of charge under a black box condition covered by appropriate mutual agreement.

• [Mid-Term Storage(4℃)]
• [Long-Term Storage(-18℃)]
• [Cryo-Preservation(-196℃)]

• [FAO-CGDT Certified World Seed Vault]
• [Northeast Asia Seed Hub Proclamation Ceremony]

(5) Center of Excellence for International Cooperation and Training on Plant Genetic Resources

During the "Global Seed Hub Declaration Ceremony" held by RDA in November 2008, delegates of partner countries adopted the Resolution on RDA's role-taking as "the Center of Excellence for International Cooperation and Training in Plant Genetic Resources" and "Cryo-preservation Center for vegetatively propagated crop" In December 2008, RDA and BI agreed to sign an MOU on the Center of Excellence for International Cooperation and Training on Plant Genetic Resource. RDA and IPGRI signed an MOU on March 27, 2009.
In the new MOU, Bioversity recognizes the strong capacity of RDA as the Center of Excellence for International Cooperation and Training on Plant Genetic Resources. Bioversity also supports the establishment of an International Center for Cryopreservation R&D.
The international training course on plant genetic resource and genebank management will strengthen the capability of many countries to conserve and manage their genetic resources. Coupled with the safety-back-up in Korea, this will ensure the long term conservation of very important genetic materials of various countries.

(6) Constructing DNA Bank for securing sovereignty of the national agricultural genetic resources

DNA/Tissue Bank of genetic resources has been being constructed all over the world.

• - Developing DNA bar code skill & its application to protect sovereign right for genetic resources
• - Studying genetic diversity and constructing database of molecular genetics
• - Developing core collections using molecular diversity of genetic resources