Welcome Message

• 

  Hwang So-min

  Chairman of the General Assembly
  Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

  Hello, I am Hwang So-min, Chairman of the General Assembly of the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery(KSAPS)
  
  KSAPS members, including training hospitals and private practitioners, work together to achieve the medical goals of safe care and successful outcomes that satisfy the public. KSAPS engages in a variety of academic and research activities each year, such as participating in international academic conferences and regularly publishing academic journals, and is also responsible for the aesthetic plastic surgery training curriculum for resident doctors.
  
  The fact that Korea’s aesthetic plastic surgery is recognized as being among the best in the world is a result of the continuous efforts of the KSAPS. Currently, the KSAPS has signed MOUs with various international Societies for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to promote exchange and collaboration. The number of international speakers and participants attending APS KOREA, hosted by the KSAPS, continues to grow significantly each year, establishing the KSAPS as a key pillar in global aesthetic plastic surgery conferences.
  
  However, in reality, the confusion caused by the government's flawed policies, which fluctuate between essential and non-essential medical care, remains a significant challenge.
  
  However, KSAPS is an exemplary organization among many associations, as it operates with close cooperation between training hospitals and private practitioners. Going forward, I will strive to develop various strategies that will help this excellent organization grow even further, based on smooth communication and harmony among its members.
  
  Although the reality is not easy, the only way to overcome challenges is for us to unite and work hard together. To achieve this, I ask for your valuable suggestions and active participation moving forward.
  
  Thank you very much.

• 

  Oh, Deuk Young

  President

  I would like to wholeheartedly welcome all members of the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (KSAPS)
  
  Although the KSAPS is an affiliate of Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, it is a large-scale society with 2,000 members as of April, 2024. The KSAPS holds an academic conference titled Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (APS) with approximately 1,000 attendees and releases a quarterly academic journal of Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery each year. Both APS and Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery play the roles of providing a venue to develop and systemize aesthetic plastic surgery further as a field of academic research.
  
  The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons is the only legitimate academic society and group of professionals specializing in aesthetic plastic surgery in Korea. There are many medical practitioners who perform cosmetic surgeries and procedures for aesthetic purposes. However, the KSAPS only accepts plastic surgeons with professional qualifications who underwent the official education and training programs as its members. The KSAPS studies basic science, presents the standards for safe and sound aesthetic plastic surgery, and provides its members with educational opportunities
  
  Also, the KSAPS concludes MOUs and promotes the exchange with foreign organizations of aesthetic plastic surgery on behalf of plastic surgery clinics of Korea. Societies for aesthetic plastic surgery in many countries of the world and the International Society of Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) recognize the KSAPS as their counterpart and propose to hold joint academic conferences and request to send Korean aesthetic plastic surgery professionals as guest speakers of their events.
  
  The APS, the annual academic conference of the KSAPS, provides an opportunity for foreign plastic surgeons to actively participate in the event and attract more attendees from overseas as the programs and presentations are largely provided in English. The number of foreign participants increases each year as well thanks to rapidly changing contents of aesthetic plastic contents of Korea and an attractive destination of Seoul as the venue of the APS. The KSAPS is working hard to develop the APS further as one of the biggest and most influential international conferences on aesthetic plastic surgery in Asia and establish Korea as the center of aesthetic plastic surgery, representing the region.
  
  Now that the long COVID-19 pandemic is over, demand for academic events related to aesthetic plastic surgery is burgeoning. Then, it will serve as an opportunity for the KSAPS to take a step further for the future. More foreign speakers will give their presentations to broaden our view and more foreign participants will attend the event to witness the high level of Korean aesthetic plastic surgery. There are many members of the KSAPS with outstanding capabilities. Still, we are not good at promoting ourselves by skillfully emphasizing merits, although each member of the KSAPS has the world’s best experience, knowledge, and techniques. Fortunately, former leaders of the KSAPS provided us with great framework and expression of the APS and the Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. I firmly believe that we can hold the world’s leading academic conference and publish a prestigious journal by gathering the capabilities of our members and expressing the contents well. At the same time, it will allow more KSAPA members to be invited to foreign conferences to give presentations.
  
  The status and social recognition of KSAPA will be increased through its academic activities. In this regard, the recognition that Korea is good at plastic surgery is not enough. Rather, to make that Korean aesthetic plastic surgery clinics are highly regarded and take the lead in academic field will be the way for the world to highly value the expertise of Korean aesthetic plastic surgeons and for patients and the public to build more trust in us. I look forward to your active participation and support for the development of APS and Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.