A National Survey of Public Attitudes toward Biobanks and Human Bioresource Donation

The increasing use of human biospecimens and health data in research raises ethical and legal concerns regarding privacy, consent, and ownership. This study examined public awareness, attitudes, and concerns related to biospecimen and health data in South Korea. A nationwide online survey was conducted with 500 adults, stratified by region, age, and gender. The questionnaire assessed awareness levels, donation experience, motivations, and concerns related to biospecimen and health data donation. Statistical analyses using SPSS (version 29) included chi-square tests across demographic variables such as gender, age, education, and occupation. Awareness of biospecimen donation was moderate for biomedical research (55.2%) but lower for industrial research (42.2%). Awareness of biobanks was low (21.4%). Willingness to donate was higher for biomedical research (biospecimens 54.0%, health data 50.6%) than for industrial purposes (48.2%, 43.8%). The main motivations included humanitarian concerns and public benefit, while major concerns focused on privacy and physical discomfort. Most participants (72.2%) preferred detailed consent. Men were more willing to donate and expressed more favorable attitudes toward biospecimen and health data donation than women. The findings indicate moderate public awareness and willingness to donate biospecimens and health data, alongside persistent concerns about privacy, ownership, and compensation. Enhancing ethical governance and public engagement is essential to building trust in biobank-based research.