Conditional trust as a driver of public engagement in Korea’s national project of bio-big data

Public perception of biodata collection reflected a mix of anticipated personal and public benefits, alongside concerns regarding data disclosure. Willingness to participate was influenced more by personal benefits (60.9%) than by public interest (29.9%). While personal incentives such as treatment cost coverage were valued, participation was also driven by a desire to contribute to research and support drug development, reflecting a blend of self-interest and altruistic motivation. Concerns centered on data leakage, with dynamic consent emerging as a key condition of trust, alongside public governance and the right to information. To secure public trust and increase participation in the NPBBD, tailored strategies must be used to balance personal and public benefits with transparent governance, information provision, and consent procedures.