Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Republic of Korea transitioned its syphilis surveillance system from sentinel to mandatory surveillance in 2024 and expanded reporting criteria. This study analyzed the epidemiological characteristics and incidence of syphilis under the 2024 mandatory surveillance system. METHODS: We analyzed data from 2,790 cases with confirmed syphilis and pathogen carriers reported through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s integrated surveillance system from January to December 2024. RESULTS: The total number of syphilis cases in 2024 was 2,790, with an incidence rate of 5.4 per 100,000 population. By stage, early latent syphilis was the most common (1,220 cases, 43.7%), followed by primary syphilis (983 cases, 35.2%), secondary syphilis (524 cases, 18.8%), tertiary syphilis (51 cases, 1.8%), and congenital syphilis (12 cases, 0.4%). Males and females accounted for 2,177 (78.0%) and 613 (22.0%) cases, respectively, with the incidence rate in males (8.5 per 100,000) being 3.5 times higher than that in females (2.4 per 100,000). Cases were concentrated in those in their 20s (853 cases, 30.6%) and 30s (783 cases, 28.1%), with the highest incidence occurring in those in their 20s (14.0 per 100,000). The capital area had the most cases (1,631, 58.5%). The monthly occurrence peaked in July (274 cases), and imported infections accounted for 117 cases (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Syphilis occurrence in 2024 showed traditional epidemiological patterns, with cases concentrated in males in their 20s and 30s. Continuous surveillance and epidemiological investigations are necessary to establish evidence for syphilis prevention policies, requiring systematic approaches balance privacy protection with public health objectives.