Dear distinguished colleagues,

Over the past 12 years since the Research Society and Society establishment, Korean bariatric and metabolic surgery has achieved remarkable academic achievements and clinical growth. I want to express my infinite respect and gratitude to the past presidents, executives, and members for today's accomplishments and dedication. I am more than happy to have followed the shining footsteps more closely with the members.

The quantitative growth and qualitative improvement of bariatric surgery have been achieved through the expansion of membership, the establishment of the certification system, the compilation of textbooks, and the holding of international conferences. In recent years, it has been possible to engrave the medical insurance reimbursement statement on the sign. It is also true that there are still tasks to be improved to provide safe and effective surgical treatment and advance bariatric metabolic surgery.

We cannot delay correcting social prejudice and discrimination against obese patients. It is a severe issue domestically, with a relatively small number of patients, and internationally. Now is the time to actively respond to the recent international movement to solve these challenges of the East and West. The social misunderstanding of the etiology should be resolved, and the heavy responsibility shifted to the patient should be relieved. Let's work together to educate our patients and the general public, as well as our medical staff.

It is also urgent to improve the social understanding of bariatric and metabolic surgery itself. Misconceptions about surgery can prevent access to the truth that it is the only effective, permanent and only treatment. It will have to be addressed through active and continuous publicity. In addition, it is necessary to establish a close cooperation system between the relevant treatment departments and a smooth patient delivery system.

Improving the safety and quality of patient care is also an ongoing imperative. For this, follow-up management of the existing certification system and supplementary measures should be prepared. It is also necessary to develop a medical guideline suitable for the domestic situation and consider racial and social characteristics to be helpful in clinical practice. This year, we plan to quantify various changes since the era of reimbursement and systematically accumulate and classify domestic data on surgery and treatment results. Furthermore, we plan to start early in the development and management of research topics. JMBS, the official journal of our society, will also need to be expanded and reorganized urgently to an international level. Through this, I believe that it will further contribute to developing international standards for bariatric surgery and develop into society to present a new vision.

In addition, communication with members and society and international networks will be checked and strengthened. We will make our community a solid global player through more active human and academic exchanges with the leading group, developed through trial and error over a long time.

 

To make the Korean Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery happy together, we humbly request the active participation of our members. In addition, I would like to ask for your harsh reprimand and warm encouragement to the leadership and executives.

 

2022.04.10 Korean Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
President Sang Kuon Lee