Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

Dear members of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology (KSCM) and the visitors

Greetings. This is Wonkeun Song at Hallym University. Let me first begin by saying that I am deeply honored to serve as the 25th president of KSCM. As we move on to 2022, I wish all our members a healthy and fulfilling new year.

Over the years, KSCM has made much progress thanks to all the hard work and dedication by our colleagues, including our previous chairpersons and presidents. In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the past 2 years have been especially challenging, and yet it was also a period that demonstrated the critical importance of diagnostic capabilities against emerging infectious diseases. This has also led to an increased public interest as well as a demand for a greater role for KSCM.

As president, I will ensure that KSCM continues to provide useful and in-depth academic information on clinical microbiology. I will also work closely with the chairperson and the executive board to successfully carry out the 2022 KSCM symposium and academic conferences.

In doing so, I can only ask for the continuous support and guidance from the members of KSCM.

Thank you.

2022. 01

Wonkeun Song M.D. Ph.D.

President, the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

Dear members of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology (KSCM),

Greetings!

This is Sunjoo Kim of Gyeongsang University. It is my honor to serve as the 26th President of KSCM.

In 2023, the year of the rabbit, I wish each and every one of our members find great success in achieving their endeavors, individual goals, and aspirations along the way.

2023 will be one of the most important and meaningful years for KSCM as well. For the first time, we will be hosting the Asia Pacific Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (APCCMI 2023) in Korea. Undoubtedly, ensuring the success of this international conference will lay the foundations for further growth and development of our academic society. It is my hope that all our members come together to support this conference as individual ambassadors and active participants.

Since the establishment of KSCM, our society is about to enter its 30th year of maturity. Thanks to the dedication of many respected members, we have acquired numerous achievements so far, including a global recognition of the importance of our field as we continue the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us continue our hard work by actively engaging in exchanges among members and seeking mutual growth as a whole. As always, our combined efforts will lead to the growth of KSCM, and KSCM will always help you achieve your individual aspirations along the way.
As president, I will be part of this effort as well, as I do my best for the continued development of clinical microbiology.

I look forward to your continued success and achievements in each of your respected areas of study.

Thank you.

January 1, 2023

Sunjoo Kim M.D. Ph.D.

President, the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

Dear esteemed members of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology,

Greetings to all esteemed members.
I am Jong Wook Lee, honored to serve as the 28th President of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology for the year 2025.

Thirty-seven years ago, our founding seniors established the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology through their dedication and passion. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of all our members, the society has continued to advance and flourish.
Throughout 2025, I aim to expand active exchanges and cooperation with our members, related societies, and institutions. In particular, I plan to prepare for the sustainable growth of our society based on the academic and clinical achievements of our young members.
I am committed to fulfilling my responsibilities and working alongside you all for the advancement of our society.
In this Year 2025, I sincerely wish all members health, happiness, and academic success. Thank you.

January 1, 2025

Sincerely,
Jong Wook Lee M.D. Ph.D.

President, Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

On behalf of all members, I am pleased to greet you on our homepage.

Our society has a 33-year history since the establishment of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology in September 1998 with the predecessor of the Clinical Microbiology Research Meeting, which was launched in 1987. Clinical microbiology is one of the major fields of laboratory medicine pertaining the diagnosis of infectious diseases, and is a multidisciplinary study that covers infectious diseases, microbiology and parasitology, hospital epidemiology and infection control. The mission of our society is to “contribute to improving healthcare and medicine” through “clinical microbiology by focusing on the diagnosis of infectious diseases and infection control”. Therefore, our society is actively serving as a major academic organization that conducts academic conferences, publication of academic journals, and training of laboratory experts in the field of clinical microbiology. It also plays the role of laboratory experts at the national level to prepare for and respond to infectious disease epidemics of public concern.

As we go through more than a year as the COVID-19 pandemic, the first pandemic experienced in 100 years, each member is carrying out our mission on the frontline. The capabilities of our society that have been prepared over the past 33 years are showing their value with the world's top level of laboratory response to COVID-19 pandemic. As 2021 will be the year of overcoming COVID-19, our members are building scientific knowledge and evidence from the COVID-19 response and will apply it to advances in infectious disease diagnosis. These will lead the flourishing of clinical microbiological research.

Active exchange and friendship between members are the traditional basis of all these activities. All executives, including myself, will work together to achieve this mission. We ask for your continued interest and support so that the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology can play a role in contributing to healthcare and medicine.

Thank you.

2021.01

Mi-Na Kim M.D., Ph.D.

Chairperson of the Board, the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

Respected members of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology, and to all who are visiting our webpage,

On behalf of our members, I wish you a happy new year in 2023 - the year of the rabbit.
Returning to the post after 2 years, it is a great honor to serve once more as the 6th president of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology (KSCM).

Started as a clinical microbiological research group in 1987, our society has reorganized into its current form (KSCM) in September 1998 and has continued its work on the development of clinical microbiology for the past 35 years. Now, clinical microbiology is one of the main subspecialties in laboratory medicine, requiring a multidisciplinary approach encompassing various fields and core clinical functions including infectious diseases, microbiology, parasitology, infection control, and hospital epidemiology. Our mission is to “contribute to the improvement of national healthcare” by carrying out “rigorous academic research and active exchange among members” on “the diagnosis of microbiological infectious diseases” that threatens human health.

For the past 3 years, each and every one of our members has devoted themselves to carry out our mission since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world in 100 years. With the capabilities accumulated over the past 35 years, our response to COVID-19 has been recognized as one of best in the world. We take great pride in the fact that KSCM and the field of clinical microbiology have been able to play a critical role in public healthcare.

I believe 2023 will be yet another busy year, a period that requires indeed the virtues of diligence and speed of the rabbit. For the first time, we will be hosting an international conference as part of our annual academic gathering, bringing together the 26th KSCM General Meeting and the 19th Asia Pacific Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (APCCMI 2023) between July 6-8. It goes without saying that holding such a large event is a daunting task. But trying something new can also be a great opportunity to leap forward. In preparation for the upcoming event, we have worked closely with the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (APSCMI) and built cooperative relations with other infectious diseases and infection control related academic societies in Korea, Japan, and the greater Asia-Pacific region. For the next 6 months, I ask for the continued support from our members to ensure the success of the 26th KSCM General Meeting & APCCMI 2023.

In the midst of all this, KSCM will faithfully fulfill its role as the country’s expert group in clinical microbiology as we continue to engage in our activities in research, publication, training, education, and critical response, among others. In doing so, active exchange among KSCM members will remain as a critical tradition and foundation of our efforts. Collaboration with various private and public institutions in the field of clinical microbiology and infection is also crucial, and together with President Sunjoo Kim and all executives, we will fully demonstrate our society's leadership. Looking back at the past 2 years, I sincerely thank our members for their lasting interest and support toward KSCM. I can only hope that you would extend your guidance and encouragement for KSCM to fulfill its role as we continue our work.

January 1, 2023.

Mi-Na Kim M.D., Ph.D.

Chairperson of the Board, the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

Dear esteemed members of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology,

As we enter 2025, a new executive board has been inaugurated to lead our society.
Since its inception as the Clinical Microbiology Study Group in 1987 and its formal establishment as the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology (KSCM) in 1998, our society has solidified its role as an academic institution by organizing conferences and publishing scientific journals.

We take great pride in the contributions made by our society and its members in addressing infectious disease outbreaks that have had significant impacts on both Korea and the global community, including the 2009 influenza pandemic, the 2015 MERS outbreak, and the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. As experts in clinical microbiology, we have responded to these public health crises through scientific research and professional engagement, playing a vital role in safeguarding public health. Moving forward, our society remains committed to its fundamental mission of combating microbial threats to humanity.

While maintaining its core academic functions, the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology aims to actively engage with government agencies to enhance public health, contribute to research and development in the field of microbiology, and foster collaboration with industry to drive mutual growth. Through these efforts, we seek to advance the field of clinical microbiology and ensure the practical and effective application of diagnostic methodologies, thereby making meaningful contributions to society.

On the international front, our academic exchange with the Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology (JSCM), initiated in January 2006, has continued for nearly two decades. Additionally, since 2014, we have been fostering collaboration with the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), which initially proposed academic exchange. This partnership has since evolved within the field of clinical microbiology under the Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine (KSLM). Furthermore, in 2023, we successfully hosted the Asia-Pacific Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (APCCMI), marking our first major international conference. Our society remains committed to maintaining and expanding these global collaborations to advance clinical microbiology and respond effectively to emerging infectious diseases worldwide.

As a leading academic society, the KSCM continues to provide a platform for sharing the latest knowledge through conferences, symposiums, training courses, and monthly meetings. We strive to ensure that these gatherings serve not only as academic forums but also as opportunities for meaningful engagement and collaboration among our members. We encourage all members, as experts in clinical microbiology, to actively engage in the society’s initiatives, refine their expertise, and apply their knowledge to clinical practice—ultimately contributing to advancements in healthcare and improved patient outcomes.

Thank you.

January 1, 2025.

Jae-Seok Kim, MD, PhD

Chairperson of the Board, Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology