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Message from the Dean

Reaching Beyond Korea to Become the Leading Medical School in the World

A Message from the Dean :
Our Commitment to Innovation and Societal Impact

Founded on the legacy of the ‘Eui-Hak-Kyo’ (Medical School) established in 1899, Seoul National University College of Medicine has long stood at the forefront of medical education, research, and clinical excellence in the Republic of Korea. For more than a century, the institution has cultivated distinguished medical scholars and healthcare leaders who have contributed profoundly to national and global health.

Today, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in history — confronted by global challenges such as climate change and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into all aspects of society. At the same time, Korea’s healthcare landscape faces significant pressures including demographic shifts, disparities in essential and regional care, and evolving public health needs. These realities demand of us a renewed commitment to societal impact and global leadership.

Seoul National University College of Medicine is uniquely positioned to meet these challenges. Our community comprises devoted educators, accomplished clinical and basic scientists, innovative physician-scientists, and exceptional students who will lead the future of medicine. By uniting our collective expertise and shared purpose, we will continue to advance the highest standards of academic medicine.

Our vision is to cultivate leaders who embrace innovation without fear, to promote integrative research that bridges discovery and clinical application, and to expand our role as a globally engaged institution. We are equally committed to advancing public health, strengthening international partnerships, and embedding education and research on climate change and diversity into the core of our mission.

As Dean, I pledge to pursue these goals with humility, determination, and a spirit of inquiry. Together with our community of scholars, clinicians, learners, and partners, we will build on our legacy and reach new heights of excellence - as a school that Korea and the world can proudly recognize.

I sincerely ask for your continued engagement, support, and confidence in this collective journey.

Jae-Joon Yim, M.D., Ph.D.임 재 준 사인

Dean, Seoul National University College of Medicine

서울대학교 의과대학 제38대 학장 임 재 준
Dean Jae-Joon Yim is a Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and an expert in tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases. He graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine, where he also earned his master’s and doctoral degrees, and completed his residency and fellowship training at Seoul National University Hospital.

From 2001 to 2002, he worked as a visiting scholar at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under the U.S. National Institutes of Health. From 2007 to 2009, he studied at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, where he earned a master’s degree with a focus on patient-centered research.He has led translational and clinical research in tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases and has published numerous articles in leading international journals, including JAMA and The Lancet. He currently serves as President of the Korean TB/NTM Research Group and is a full member of both the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and the National Academy of Medicine of Korea.