An agricultural genetic resource center that can preserve 500-thousand specimens from home and abroad will open in Suwon city Friday.

The Rural Development Administration says the newly built world-class center will begin operating Friday.

Located on the grounds of the administration's Suwon office, the three-story building will store various microorganisms and trophozoites.

The administration plans to systemize management of 15-thousand genetic resources. which were previously kept at different state agencies, in order to develop the center as an Asian hub for their preservation.

An official says the new center will also help in creating high-quality, high-yield new agricultural breeds.