Korean Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC), located within the Division of Biological Infra structure in the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) , was recognized by the government in 1985 as an official organization to support biotechnological research in Korea. KCTC joined the World Federation of Culture Collections (WFCC) in 1985 and the World Data Centre for Microorganisms (WDCM)  in 1986. It has also gained status as an International Depositary Authority (IDA) from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in June 1990, which was based on the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure.

KCTC has a wide and systematic collection of materials comprising microorganisms, animal and plant cell lines, and patent strains from domestic and international sources. It performs scientific research, including taxonomic studies and screening of industrially significant organisms. Every research outcome is added to the databases that are open to the general public. Meanwhile, we always make efforts to provide better basic services such as the collection and distribution of biological materials and patent related matters.

All information on our resources is available through the world wide web, and on-line ordering of organisms is possible. KCTC works hard to provide high quality services to the whole research community.