On Wednesday, Professor Kim Dong-hyun from Inha University Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics emphasized at a press conference held at the Seongam Art Hall in Seoul that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a threat to both men and women, not just a women’s issue. He stressed that vaccination before exposure to the virus yields the best results, as HPV spreads through sexual contact.
The conference aimed to highlight the significance and necessity of expanding the National Immunization Program (NIP) for HPV vaccinations to include 12-year-old boys, a change that took effect on May 6. This expansion of the HPV NIP, previously focused on female adolescents, marks a pivotal shift in South Korea’s HPV prevention strategy.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reports that the expanded target group for the HPV NIP now includes 12-year-old boys. As of 2026, boys born in 2014 can receive vaccinations immediately, regardless of their birth month.
HPV can infect both men and women, and according to the International Papillomavirus Society, it’s responsible for approximately 5% of all cancers worldwide. While most HPV infections resolve naturally, persistent infections can lead to various cancers and genital warts.
In South Korea, HPV infections are on the rise. The Disease Control Agency reports a 32.8% increase in HPV cases over the past four years, from 10,945 in 2020 to 14,534 in 2024. Notably, reported cases among men surged by 82.9%, from 117 cases in 2020 to 214 cases in 2024. A study involving 44,065 South Korean men found that 59% tested positive for HPV DNA.
Professor Kim explained that while the HPV vaccine is commonly known as the cervical cancer vaccine, it also protects men against various diseases, including oropharyngeal cancer and genital warts. It’s crucial to recognize men’s significant role in HPV infection and transmission.
Last year, male patients with genital warts, primarily caused by HPV, numbered 48,017, about five times higher than the 9,600 female patients.
The quadrivalent HPV vaccine, part of the national immunization program, is recommended as a two-dose series for those aged 9 to 14. Experts consider ages 11 to 12 optimal for vaccination, when immune responses are most robust and before sexual debut.
Professor Kim noted that the average age of sexual debut among adolescents is decreasing, currently at 13.6 years. Regardless of moral implications, vaccinating between ages 9 and 14 provides higher immunogenicity compared to adults.
Research shows that two doses given between ages 9 and 13 elicit immune responses to HPV types 16 and 18 comparable to three doses given between ages 16 and 26. However, the HPV vaccination rate for South Korean male adolescents born in 2011 remains at a mere 0.2%.
Jo Jae-yong, Executive Director of the Vaccine Business Division at MSD Korea, stated that despite HPV affecting both genders and causing various diseases, awareness about male vaccination has been low. It’s committed to ensuring smooth implementation of vaccinations for male adolescents through multifaceted efforts.
