Final Results of the Korea Infant Physical Growth Examination Survey (2020-2024).

Objectives: Growth charts for children and adolescents serve as essential references for assessing growth status, including underweight and obesity. The most recent version, the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart (2017 Growth Chart), has been used nationwide. This study aimed to present the results of the Korea Infant Physical Growth Examination Survey (2020-2024) conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency to support the establishment of growth standards based on domestic anthropometric data. Methods: This study analyzed anthropometric measurements obtained from infants aged 0-23 months and compared the results with the 2017 Growth Chart, which adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Growth Standards. Results: The median and key percentile values (length at the 3rd and 97th percentiles; weight at the 5th and 95th percentiles; and weight-for-length at the 5th and 95th percentiles) were generally higher than those of the 2017 Growth Chart across most age groups but converged to similar levels at approximately 22-23 months of age. Z-scores based on the 2017 Growth Chart were generally positive, and breastfed infants showed values closer to the reference standards. Conclusions: This study represents the first longitudinal investigation to collect standardized anthropometric data for Korean infants and provides a valuable resource for future research on infant growth and development in the Republic of Korea. Decisions regarding the continued application of the WHO Growth Standards in the upcoming 2027 Growth Chart will be made following a comprehensive review, including longitudinal analyses of cohort data, evaluation of national anthropometric datasets, and expert consultation.