Report June 2026 – Korea (Republic of)

The 70th Anniversary Ceremony and Academic Symposium of the Korean Medical Women’s Association

“The Great 70 Years, The Radiant 100 Years”

On July 11, 2026, the Korean Medical Women’s Association (KMWA) celebrated its 70th anniversary with a commemorative ceremony and academic symposium at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, in conjunction with the 43rd General Academic Congress of the Korean Medical Association. Under the theme “The Great 70 Years, The Radiant 100 Years,” the event reflected on KMWA’s seven-decade history and presented its vision for the future of women’s leadership in medicine.

The symposium opened with “Global & Heritage: Leading the World – The Power of Korean Medical Women.” Dr. Jacqueline W. Kitulu, President of the World Medical Association (WMA), delivered a special lecture, “Women Physicians Leading Change: From National Leadership to Global Impact,” highlighting the growing influence of women physicians and their potential to create meaningful change at both national and global levels.

Dr. Kyung Ah Park, former President of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA), and Dr. Bong Ok Kim, former Vice President for the Western Pacific Region of MWIA, presented “The Korean Medical Women’s Association in the Global Context: Status and Future Directions.” They reflected on the achievements of Korean women physicians in the international medical community and discussed ways to strengthen global networks and collaboration.

The symposium continued with “Future Vision: Innovation in Clinical Practice through AI and Data” and “Society: Human Touch – Technology and Emotion in the Era of a Super-Aged Society,” exploring technological innovation and new approaches to healthcare in an aging society.

The final session, “Harmony: A Commitment Toward the Next 100 Years,” featured “Generation Talk: Bridging Generations through Empathy.” Doctors representing different generations in medicine shared perspectives on communication, mentorship, and solidarity, emphasizing the importance of connecting the experience of senior women physicians with future generations.

Following the symposium, the 70th Anniversary Ceremony began with a procession of flag bearers representing different regions of Korea. Dr. Hyang Kim, the 33rd President of KMWA, expressed her gratitude to generations of members whose dedication and commitment have sustained the Association since its founding in 1956 and reaffirmed her commitment to leading KMWA into its next era.

Distinguished guests from the Korean medical community and the National Assembly joined the celebrations and recognized KMWA’s contributions to Korean medicine and women’s leadership over the past seven decades. A commemorative video retraced KMWA’s 70-year journey and honored the generations of women physicians who contributed to its growth.

The celebration concluded with a group photograph and a commemorative rice cake-cutting ceremony. As KMWA looked back on “The Great 70 Years,” the anniversary served not only as a celebration of its distinguished history but also as a declaration of its aspirations for “The Radiant 100 Years” to come.