South Korea’s advanced medical infrastructure and deep cultural heritage left a lasting impression on prominent figures from Japan’s medical community during a recent visit to Daegu. The Daegu Medical Association hosted a delegation from the Association of Korean Doctors in Japan for a three-day, two-night visit from July 3 to 5, successfully concluding its "80th Anniversary Commemorative Academic Conference and Korea-Japan Friendship Exchange Program."
Now in its fourth year since a formal agreement was signed in 2023, the exchange has evolved into a model case of private-sector diplomacy, reflecting deep professional trust between the Korean and Japanese medical communities that extends far beyond a merely ceremonial visit. The event was organized by the Daegu Medical Association’s Overseas Exchange and Cooperation Team, led by Head Kim Kyung-ho. The visiting delegation included Lee Kwang-hee, President of the Association of Korean Doctors in Japan; Senior Adviser Lee Woon-joo; and Clinic Director Okamoto Shingo, who followed a tightly packed itinerary.
Honoring the Spirit of Daegu's National Debt Repayment Movement
Arriving on July 3 via Daegu Airport and Dongdaegu Station, the delegation from the Association of Korean Doctors in Japan was warmly welcomed by their hosts. The group’s first itinerary stop focused heavily on Daegu’s historical legacy. After learning how Daegu residents historically launched the National Debt Repayment Movement—a vital grassroots effort to defend national sovereignty during the late Joseon period—the visitors expressed profound respect for the patriotic spirit demonstrated by Daegu citizens during the Japanese colonial era and the lasting legacy of the movement's pioneers. At a welcome banquet held on the first evening, 14 executive members—including Daegu Medical Association President Min Bok-gi and Hong Sung-kwon, senior adviser to the overseas exchange program—attended, highlighting the strong cross-border solidarity among physicians.
Moved by Cultural Guardianship and Awestruck by Digital Healthcare
On the second day, July 4, the delegation embarked on a full schedule showcasing Korean culture and cutting-edge medicine. In the morning, the group toured the Kansong Art Museum in Daegu. Delegation members repeatedly voiced admiration as they viewed iconic, national-treasure-class cultural relics in person—masterpieces they had previously only encountered in textbooks, such as the famous "Celadon Inlaid Maebyeong with Cloud and Crane Design," Joseon-era white porcelain, and classic genre paintings by Kim Hong-do, Jeong Seon, and Shin Yun-bok.
They also took in the refined ink artistry of high-end calligraphy and paintings while viewing "Chusa’s Drawing Lessons," a special exhibition marking the 240th anniversary of the birth of Chusa Kim Jeong-hui, which was nearing the conclusion of its run. Delegation members later noted they were deeply moved by the spirit of "preserving culture to protect the nation" (Munhwa Boguk) embodied by Kansong Jeon Hyeong-pil, who sacrificed his entire personal fortune to safeguard Korean cultural assets from being taken abroad during the colonial era.
The afternoon brought a sharp shift to the front lines of "Medicity Daegu," a prominent regional hub of cutting-edge medicine. While touring "Medi Expo Korea 2026" at the EXCO convention center in Daegu, the delegation observed South Korea’s advanced medical devices, digital healthcare solutions, and biotechnology capabilities firsthand, highly evaluating the global competitiveness of the nation's medical industry.
Tackling Aging Populations and Global Patient Care
At the academic conference celebrating the Daegu Medical Association’s 80th anniversary, physicians from both countries shared practical clinical concerns and academic insights. Lee Woon-joo, an adviser to the Association of Korean Doctors in Japan and a pulmonology specialist at the Osaka LEE Clinic, delivered a presentation titled "Medical Care for Foreign Travelers and Challenges Seen Through the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo (In-Person Care and Online Care)," drawing significant attention from the medical community ahead of upcoming international events. Next, Okamoto Shingo, a psychiatry specialist and director of the Mukonosou Mental Clinic, presented "Industrial Activities Practiced by a Psychiatry Specialist," sparking insightful discussions about the expanding roles of physicians in modern society.
Members of both organizations continued their discussions late into the night, sharing clinical trends regarding the super-aged era and the latest medical advancements. At a dinner held immediately following the conference, approximately 30 executives and staff members gathered to celebrate the Daegu Medical Association’s 80th anniversary and pledge continued growth for future bilateral exchanges.
A Broadening Global Network for Private Diplomacy
On the final day, July 5, the delegation visited the Daegu Modern History Museum, spending time reflecting on Daegu’s central role and the sweeping historical changes in South Korea’s modern and contemporary history, from the port-opening period through the post-liberation years. Following the tour, the delegation expressed their gratitude at a farewell luncheon hosted by the Daegu Medical Association before departing via Daegu Airport.
"In this landmark year marking our 80th anniversary, I am immensely proud that we were able to invite our colleagues from the Association of Korean Doctors in Japan to Daegu and share our advanced K-medicine infrastructure and unrivaled academic achievements," said Min Bok-gi, President of the Daegu Medical Association. "Building on the solid trust we have accumulated over the past four years, we will continue working to remain an exemplary model of cross-national exchange—one that advances the medical communities of both Korea and Japan while strengthening private-sector friendships."
Meanwhile, the Daegu Medical Association continues to expand its international reach, holding regular annual meetings not only with the Association of Korean Doctors in Japan but also with the Kobe Medical Association and the Hyogo Prefecture Insurance Doctors Association. Through these collaborative efforts, the association is actively broadening South Korea’s global medical network by discussing the medical community’s most pressing contemporary issues from multiple angles, including the resident training system, the expansion of medical school enrollment quotas, and strategic healthcare responses to a super-aged society.
