Download PDF BrochureInquire Before Buying
The South Korea Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) Market focuses on advanced reproductive technology used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to screen embryos for genetic diseases or chromosomal abnormalities before they are transferred to the womb. This process, often involving removing one or two cells from a developing embryo for analysis, is crucial for couples at risk of passing on genetic disorders or for improving IVF success rates. The market is driven by South Korea’s advanced medical infrastructure and increasing demand for personalized reproductive health solutions, allowing families to ensure the health of their future children.
The Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market in South Korea is anticipated to grow steadily at a CAGR of XX% from 2025 to 2030, rising from an estimated US$ XX billion in 2024–2025 to US$ XX billion by 2030.
The global preimplantation genetic testing market is valued at $636.4 million in 2024, projected to reach $690.2 million in 2025, and is expected to hit $1,135.0 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.5%.
Download PDF Brochure:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=605
Drivers
The South Korean Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) market is primarily propelled by the nation’s high adoption rate of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and a growing societal trend towards later-in-life childbearing, which naturally increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in offspring. South Korea has a well-developed network of fertility clinics and a population that is increasingly seeking advanced reproductive services to ensure healthy pregnancies. Strong clinical demand for PGT is further fueled by the rising prevalence of genetic disorders and the desire to prevent the transmission of known inherited conditions. Government recognition and partial funding of IVF cycles, although regulated, contribute to the accessibility of PGT procedures like Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS, now PGT-A). Furthermore, technological advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and microarray technologies have made PGT more accurate, comprehensive, and faster, driving confidence and adoption among both clinicians and prospective parents. The continuous development of domestic genetic testing capabilities and bioinformatics expertise also plays a crucial role in reducing reliance on international services, thereby supporting market growth.
Restraints
Despite robust demand, the South Korean PGT market faces significant restraints, primarily stemming from stringent regulatory and ethical restrictions. PGT, particularly Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for aneuploidy screening (PGT-A), is tightly regulated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and guided by bioethics laws, limiting its application primarily to couples with specific medical indications, such as recurrent miscarriages, failed IVF attempts, or risk of known genetic disorders. This regulatory environment hinders broader market expansion into optional embryo selection. Financial barriers also pose a constraint, as PGT procedures are often costly and typically not covered by national health insurance unless certain medical criteria are met, making them inaccessible to a large segment of the population. There is also an ongoing need for consensus among medical professionals regarding the optimal clinical protocols and standardization of PGT techniques, which can lead to variability in practice and patient outcomes. Finally, ethical and cultural sensitivities surrounding embryo selection and genetic modification in South Korea remain a powerful restraint, requiring careful navigation and often slow policy changes.
Opportunities
Significant opportunities exist for growth in the South Korean PGT market, particularly by focusing on technological diversification and expanding clinical indications. The most promising opportunity lies in the development and adoption of non-invasive PGT (niPGT) methods, which utilize cell-free DNA from spent culture media, potentially bypassing the need for embryo biopsy and reducing procedural risk, thus appealing to a wider range of patients and clinics. Expanding the scope of testing to include Preimplantation Genetic Testing for polygenic risk scores (PGT-P) offers future potential, though this remains heavily debated ethically and legally. Furthermore, as government policy evolves to address the national declining birth rate, there is an opportunity for increased public funding or subsidy for PGT in high-risk groups, which would substantially increase accessibility. Strong collaboration between local IVF clinics and specialized genomics companies presents an opportunity to create standardized, high-throughput, and cost-effective testing services. Lastly, capitalizing on South Korea’s strong reputation in medical tourism could drive inbound demand for PGT services from other Asian countries with less developed or more restricted reproductive genetics markets.
Challenges
The core challenges in the South Korean PGT market revolve around policy interpretation, quality assurance, and public perception. The primary challenge is the ambiguous and often restrictive regulatory framework that governs which genetic tests are permissible on embryos. Navigating the ethical approval process for new PGT technologies or expanded indications requires significant time and resource investment. Ensuring consistent quality and accuracy across the numerous private IVF centers is another technical challenge, demanding rigorous external quality assessment schemes and standardization of laboratory protocols, especially regarding trophectoderm biopsy and subsequent DNA amplification. Educating both healthcare providers and the public about the benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations of PGT is crucial to address misunderstandings and build trust. Moreover, there is a challenge in the limited pool of highly specialized professionals, including clinical embryologists and genetic counselors, who are essential for delivering these complex services. Finally, the fragmented nature of data collection and lack of a centralized national registry for ART and PGT outcomes complicate large-scale research and quality improvement efforts.
Role of AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize the South Korean PGT market by optimizing embryo selection and improving laboratory efficiency. AI algorithms, particularly deep learning models, can analyze vast amounts of time-lapse imaging data from embryo incubators (morphokinetics) to objectively assess embryo quality and predict viability and euploidy status with greater consistency than manual grading. This capability can potentially reduce the subjectivity involved in embryo selection, improving clinical pregnancy rates. AI is also critical in bioinformatics, automating the complex analysis of sequencing data generated by PGT, allowing for faster and more accurate detection of chromosomal abnormalities and monogenic disorders. Furthermore, AI can streamline laboratory workflows, optimizing resource allocation, and reducing manual errors in the IVF lab, which directly impacts the cost-effectiveness of PGT. Future applications may include using AI to personalize ovarian stimulation protocols for IVF patients, thereby maximizing the yield of viable embryos available for genetic testing, further enhancing the overall success rates of ART in the context of PGT.
Latest Trends
Several progressive trends are defining the trajectory of the South Korean PGT market. A key trend is the accelerating transition from older microarray-based PGT methods to Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) platforms, which offer higher resolution, increased throughput, and the ability to simultaneously screen for aneuploidies (PGT-A) and specific monogenic disorders (PGT-M). The development and commercialization of non-invasive PGT (niPGT) methods represent another major trend, where analysis is performed on cell-free DNA released into the spent embryo culture media, aiming to simplify the procedure and minimize potential harm to the embryo. Furthermore, there is a distinct move toward fully integrated, in-house PGT services within large hospital systems or specialized fertility centers, reducing reliance on external centralized genetic labs. This vertical integration allows for faster turnaround times and improved quality control. Finally, South Korean biotech companies are increasingly focusing on developing novel, local diagnostic kits and automated systems specifically tailored for PGT workflows, often integrating AI for enhanced analysis, strengthening the domestic supply chain and reducing reliance on foreign technology providers.
Download PDF Brochure:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=605