Greetings from the Chairman of the Board/CEO

Dear members of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society,

How are you?

I am Hyoung-Doo Lee, a Pediatric Cardiologist at Pusan National University School of Medicine and I will serve as the Chairman of the Board of Director of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society for two years starting from April 2025.

First, I would like to express my respect and gratitude to all the members who are dedicated to the highest value of 'life' at the forefront of essential medical care.

The current reality is that while you are sacrificing yourselves and putting in all your heart and effort to treat pediatric heart diseases and adult congenital heart diseases based on the noble dreams you established in your youth, conditions continue to become difficult, and it is a situation where the word crisis cannot even fully capture the challenges we face.

Even if we set aside social phenomena such as declining birth rates, the difficulties in severe medical fields have created human and financial distortions that have brought us to the brink of the collapse of the medical system and the extinction of essential medical services. However, the conflicts arising from insufficient evidence and research due to erroneous administrative approaches are making the future even gloomier.

Even though spring may not come easily, the society will continue to communicate diligently with administrative authorities under a clear recognition of the problems so that you, our members, can be fairly evaluated and dedicate yourselves to the practice and research in meaningful ways. We are deserving of respect, and we must be respected so that our juniors and medical students can continue this noble work.

Academically, we will prepare various academic conferences and training courses to further develop the level of treatment for pediatric heart diseases and adult congenital heart diseases, which has reached a world-class standard. We will continue to develop statistical projects at the society level and create institutional conditions that can contribute to research. We will also take the lead in international conferences such as APPCS 2025 in Pakistan and WCPCCS 2025 in Hong Kong, and we will strive to enhance the capabilities and status of our members through the successful hosting of the Korea-China-Japan Pediatric Cardiology Conference in 2026.

Through various exchanges with patient families, we will convey the great meaning of 박시제중 (博施濟衆) - to widely provide and rescue many people - and strive to contribute to a healthy life.

I understand that our members are already exhausted due to many practical difficulties, but I ask you to join forces to overcome these challenges and adversities and to actively participate in and pay attention to the society's activities.

I look forward to the significant role of the members of the Korean Pediatric Cardiology Society and wish you health and happiness.

• April 1, 2025
  Hyoung-doo Lee Chairman of the Board/CEO the Korean Pediatric Heart Society

Greetings from the president

Dear members of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society,

Hello.

I am Woong-han KIM, the President of the 20th term from Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Currently, all of South Korea is struggling for significant change. The medical insurance system of South Korea, which is envied worldwide, is in a situation that is no longer sustainable.

Our society belongs to the group that has suffered the most from this situation. We have reached a point where we can no longer expect the next generation to continue our field.

I will refrain from discussing the external situations we cannot control. I believe that reaching this limit is also due to our own insufficient efforts to address and overcome problems within the medical community. We need to make our own efforts to ensure that the unreasonable situations we are experiencing are not passed on to the next generation.

While the society's efforts for academic advancement are crucial, I believe that in the current situation, there is a need for efforts to drive changes in the medical field for the next generation.

Our society is essential healthcare, which no one in the medical field can deny, yet it is a specialty that the younger generation of medical professionals tends to avoid. In this situation, it is time for us to consistently raise and improve what we need to work on for the essential healthcare sector of South Korea and for the next generation through our society. The society must inform the public of the serious problems in the medical field, present alternatives to the government, and engage in dialogue with government officials. The government cannot provide us with alternatives without specialized knowledge and amidst changing personnel. Since the members of the society are most familiar with the situation and aware of the issues, we must create an internal system in the society to continuously raise problems and generate policy alternatives, while also informing the public and maintaining ongoing dialogue with government officials.

In addition to academic activities, the society should continuously gather current medical issues, create consensus on them, and propose and discuss improvement measures. There is a need to cultivate a group of experts on insurance and policy over a long period. Without extensive expertise, we cannot engage in discussions with government officials or propose alternatives. If we continue to hope that the government or medical organizations will solve our problems, there will be no future for our field. No one outside the members of our society cares about the issues in our medical field.

Changes in the society are necessary for these reasons.

Our society's members are the medical professionals who spend the most time with patients, more than any other medical practitioners. They are the ones who most frequently accompany patients during their recovery in the intensive care unit after treatment. They are the ones who celebrate the outcomes of patients the most and, in some cases, suffer the most wounds.

I sincerely hope that the value of life felt by our society members will be conveyed to the next generation, and that the society will strive for and establish a system that responds to the changing medical field; for this, I earnestly hope for the participation, effort, and sacrifice of the current members of the society.

The next generation cannot have hope without the sacrifices of the current generation.

I ask for your great attention and active participation. Thank you.

• 
  April 1, 2025
  Woong-Han KIM The 20^th president of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society

Overview

1. Society Name
   Korean: 대한소아심장학회
   English: Korean Pediatric Heart Society
2. Founding Date: May 9, 2001 (First President: Cheol-Ho Kim)
3. Date of Affiliation with the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences: March 9, 2004
4. Website: www.pediheart.org

Background of Establishment

The Korean Pediatric Heart Society was officially launched on March 3, 2001, evolving from the Korean Pediatric Heart Study Group (founded in April 1979 with the first president Chang-Eui Hong, followed by Du-Bong Lee, Young-Chang Dok-Go, Seung-Gyu Lee, and Heung-Jae Lee). At the time of its establishment, 99 members attended, and Cheol-Ho Kim was elected as the first president. Since then, the society has achieved remarkable growth.

Since March 2004, the Korean Pediatric Heart Society has been a member of the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences. The society successfully holds annual academic conferences and has been organizing the Korea-Japan-China Pediatric Heart Forum annually since 2005. The society has elevated its status under the leadership of its past presidents, including Yong-Jin Kim (2nd), Sang-Beom Lee (3rd), Sang-Ho Lee (4th), and Jeong-Il Noh (5th).

The purpose of the society, as outlined in its bylaws, is to promote academic exchange, research, and education related to pediatric heart diseases while fostering camaraderie among its members.

1) Korean Pediatric Heart Study Group (Predecessor to the Korean Pediatric Heart Society)

1. Period: March 7, 1979 - March 3, 2001
2. Presidents: Chang-Eui Hong (1st), Du-Bong Lee (2nd), Young-Chang Dok-Go (3rd), Seung-Gyu Lee (4th)
3. Membership: 140 members

On March 7, 1979, the Korean Pediatric Heart Study Group was established as a gathering of pediatricians specializing in pediatric cardiology. In 1984, the “School Heart Screening Study Group” was launched to contribute to the epidemiological research of heart diseases in school-aged children.

In 1991, the group hosted the 5^th Asia Pediatric Cardiology Conference and the International Conference on Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in Seoul, summarizing the epidemiological characteristics and clinical features of aortic stenosis, aortic coarctation, and rheumatic heart disease in Korea and Asia. In June 1999, the group successfully hosted the 3^rd International 6-Day Symposium on Congenital Heart Disease under the World Heart Federation. This event included 29 global scholars and over 50 pediatric cardiologists from 15 countries, focusing on discussions of heart specimens and clinical cases, contributing to the training of global pediatric cardiology specialists.

2) Establishment of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society

• • First President: Cheol-Ho Kim (March 3, 2001)
• Purpose of Establishment:
  

  The Korean Pediatric Heart Study Group had been active for over 20 years before evolving into the Korean Pediatric Heart Society. At the time of the group’s founding, the medical standards in Korea were significantly behind advanced countries. Over time, the field of pediatric cardiology achieved remarkable qualitative and quantitative growth, with over 40 hospitals nationwide performing open-heart surgeries. Despite the high degree of specialization in pediatric cardiology, the group’s membership grew to over 140.
  
  The group’s founding presidents, including Chang-Eui Hong (1st), Du-Bong Lee (2nd), Young-Chang Dok-Go (3rd), and Seung-Gyu Lee (4th), worked tirelessly to strengthen its foundation through numerous academic meetings and symposia. These efforts have elevated Korea’s pediatric cardiology standards to a level comparable with global standards. The dedication and sacrifices of the past presidents and senior members have laid the groundwork for the society’s success today.
  
  Several years ago, members recognized the need to transition into the Korean Pediatric Heart Society to develop into a more robust academic organization. This decision was made during the general assembly held in the first year of the 21^st century. The launch of the journal "Pediatric Heart" in 1997 marked a significant milestone, capturing the qualitative and quantitative growth of the field. The journal serves as a platform to share research achievements and educational content with pediatric cardiologists, trainees, and non-specialist physicians, fostering broader interest and participation in the field.
  
  The society’s journal "Pediatric Heart" is planned to be published twice annually, continuing its role as a forum for active academic exchange and a stepping stone for international recognition.

• Founding General Assembly (March 3, 2001, Saturday)
  
  • Location: Kyungpook National University Hospital Auditorium
  • Details: Cheol-Ho Kim (Inje University, Busan Paik Hospital) was inaugurated as the president. The society’s name was changed to “Korean Pediatric Heart Society” (English: The Korean Society of Pediatric Cardiology), and its bylaws were revised based on those of the Korean Pediatric Heart Study Group. Membership fees were set at 100,000 KRW for regular members (annual fee: 50,000 KRW) and 50,000 KRW for associate members (annual fee: 30,000 KRW). The society’s journal was to be published twice annually, following submission guidelines aligned with the Journal of Pediatrics.

3) Development Leading to Affiliation with the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (2004)

1. May 9, 2001: First Steering Committee Meeting (Seoul National University Hospital, Clinical Research Institute, 11^th Floor)
   • Attendees: Cheol-Ho Kim, Heung-Jae Lee, Jae-Sook Ma, In-Sook Park, Jeong-Il Noh, Jung-Wook Seo, Sung-Jae Lee, Jae-Gon Ko, Jeong-Yeol Lee, Chang-Sung Son, Min-Seop Song.
   • Key Decisions: Selection of officers, revival of monthly academic meetings, plan to publish the society’s journal twice annually.
2. March 16, 2002: Steering Committee Meeting (Chosun University, 5^th Floor Conference Room)
   • Discussions: Publication of a new journal "Clinical Pediatrics" (tentative title), establishment of the Cardiac Specimen Study Group and Resuscitation Committee, and regular meetings during the Korean Circulation Society Fall Conference.
3. October 10, 2002: Steering Committee and General Assembly during the Korean Circulation Society Fall Conference at Lotte World Hotel, Jamsil.
4. March 9, 2004: Official admission to the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

4) Related Study Groups

1. 2000: Fetal Heart Study Group (targeted at radiologists and pediatric cardiologists)
2. 2003: GUCH (Grown-Up Congenital Heart) Study Group (Chair: Heung-Jae Lee)
   • Kawasaki Disease Study Group (Chair: Yong-Soo Yoon)
   • Cardiac Pathology Study Group (Chair: Jung-Wook Seo)
3. 2004: Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Study Group (Chair: Sung-Ho Kim)
4. 2007: Pediatric Hypertension Study Group (Chair: Young-Chang Dok-Go)
   • Pulmonary Hypertension Study Group (Chair: Yoo Ki-Yang)

2024

8.17 The 27^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Incheon Sejong Hospital

6.14~15 24^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Kyungpook National University Hospital

2023

8.19 The 26^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Asan Medical Center

3.24~25 23^rd Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Venezia Hotel, Yeosu

2022

8.28 The 25^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology (Online Hybrid) Seoul National University Hospital

3.25~26 22^nd Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society St. John's Hotel, Gangneung

2021

9. 4 The 24^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Online

3.27 21^st Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Online

2020

12. 5 December 5 The 23^rd Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Online

10.23 20^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Online

2019

8.17 The 22^nd Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology BEXCO

4. 5~6 19^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Grand Walkerhill Hotel, Seoul

2018

8.25 The 21^st Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Mediplex Sejong Hospital

3.24 18^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Chungnam National University Hospital

2017

8.12 The 20^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Asan Medical Center

4. 1 17^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Chonbuk National University Hospital

2016

8.20 The 19^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Seoul National University Hospital

3.24 16^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Ramada Hotel, Jeju

2015

8.29 The 18^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

3.21 15^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Chonnam National University Hospital

2014

8.30 The 17^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Samsung Medical Center

3.22 14^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Chungnam National University Hospital

2013

8.17 The 16^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Kyungpook National University

3.23 13^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Hyundai Hotel, Gyeongju

2012

8.18 The 15^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Severance Hospital

5.18~19 12^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel, Seoul

2011

10.29 The 14^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Sheraton Seoul D-Cube City Hotel

3.19 11^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Chonbuk National University, Jeonju

2010

12.11 The 13^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Asan Medical Center

3.26~27 10^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart SocietySeoul St.Mary's Hospital

2009

8.29 The 12^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Pusan National University Hospital, Yangsan

3.28 9^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Gyeongsang National University Hospital

2008

  The 11^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology

5. 3 8^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society COEX

2007

8.18 The 10^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Seoul National University Hospital

3.25 7^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society

2006

7. 1 The 9^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Severance Hospital

3.26 6^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Busan National University Hospital

2005

8.27 The 8^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Bucheon Seoul Theological University

  5^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Shinan Beach Hotel, Mokpo

2004

8.28 The 7^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Samsung Medical Center

3.13 4^th Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Kyungpook National University Hospital

2003

8.30~31 The 6^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Asan Medical Center

  3^rd Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society

2002

8.24 The 5^th Update Symposium in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology Seoul National University Hospital

3.15 2^nd Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Gwangju

2001

3. 2 1^st Spring Conference of the Korean Pediatric Heart Society Kyungpook National University Hospital