Compiled by the ENCLAI research team following a documented methodology · Editorial oversight: Dr Natalya Mathur, Founder · Data last updated: (UTC)

Leprosy in South Korea: 2026 cases and outbreak reports

Reported leprosy surveillance for South Korea (KOR) — ▼ Declining · 2025 — latest record 2026-09-15

What the 2026 data shows

As of 31 August 2026, South Korea has reported 5 leprosy cases in 2026, as published by South Korea KDCA. The full year 2025 closed at 3 cases. 2025 closed 40% below 2024, which is why the trend reads “Declining”.

Of the 10 countries reporting leprosy to ENCLAI in 2026, South Korea accounts for 0.0% of reported cases and ranks 7 by case count.

ENCLAI has logged 10 surveillance records for leprosy in South Korea in 2026, with the most detailed reporting in Jul 2026 (7 records); the case counts run to 2026-08-31. 1 distinct surveillance sources reported this pair in 2026.

Reporting authorities for these counts: South Korea KDCA

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Surveillance summary

2026 cases (YTD)
5
2025 cases (full year)
3
Baseline avg (3yr)
N/A
Trend (2025)
▼ Declining · 2025
-40% vs 2024

Reported cases by year, South Korea

YearReported casesShare of worldwide reports
2023 not reported —
2024 5 0.0%
2025 3 0.0%
2026 (year to date) 5 0.0%

Reporting bounds and case definitions vary; historical baselines are a separate comparison measure. Worldwide share compares this country's reported figure with the sum of all countries reporting leprosy to ENCLAI for that year. "Incomplete year" means our sources cover less than ten months of that year, so no full-year figure is shown; "outbreak total to date" is a running total since an outbreak began, not a count for one year.

Surveillance records logged in 2026

MonthRecordsReporting sources
Jul 202671
Aug 202611
Sep 202621

A record is one dated surveillance publication or one row of an official table; a month with many records is a month with detailed reporting, not necessarily more cases.

Leprosy in other countries, 2026

Country2026 casesTrend
Brazil 18,831 ≈ Stable · 2025
Sri Lanka 832
China 81
United States 48
Australia 10

Other diseases reported in South Korea, 2026

Disease2026 casesTrend
Carbapenem-resistant organism infection 46,917 ≈ Stable · 2025
Varicella 32,970 ≈ Stable · 2025
Scarlet fever 11,108 ▲ Rising · 2025
Mumps 5,424 ≈ Stable · 2025
Hepatitis C 4,933 ≈ Stable · 2025

Questions about this page

How many leprosy cases has South Korea reported in 2026?
As of 31 August 2026, South Korea has reported 5 leprosy cases in 2026, as published by South Korea KDCA. The full year 2025 closed at 3 cases. 2025 closed 40% below 2024, which is why the trend reads “Declining”.
Is leprosy rising or falling in South Korea?
ENCLAI's trend reading for leprosy in South Korea is “Declining · 2025”: the latest complete year is compared with the earlier baseline from the reported counts; the current year is not judged until it closes.
Where does South Korea publish leprosy surveillance data?
The counts on this page were published by South Korea KDCA. ENCLAI compiles and normalises them and is not affiliated with these authorities.

About this data

Figures are reported case counts as published by the originating health authorities, compiled by ENCLAI from 444 verified surveillance sources. South Korea figures reflect the reporting available to ENCLAI; reporting periods and case definitions differ between sources, and a missing report does not establish zero cases. ENCLAI holds leprosy records for South Korea dated from 2024. How we verify and update data: methodology & Trust Center · understanding case counts.

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The daily disease brief

One email a day: what changed in official disease reporting worldwide, with the source named for every number. Reported facts only — no forecasts and no interpretation.

Double opt-in — we send a confirmation link and nothing else until you click it. One-click unsubscribe on every email. See our privacy notice.