One of the most prominent issues facing Daegu Metropolitan City’s dental community is the campaign to attract the National Dental Research Institute. Since taking office on March 17, Hur Young-joo, president of the Daegu Metropolitan City Dental Association, has maintained a non-stop schedule ranging from government outreach to meetings with related organizations and the drafting of policy proposals.
Following the successful conclusion of the recently held 2026 Daegu International Dental Congress & Equipment Exhibition (DIDEX 2026), we spoke with President Hur to discuss where Daegu’s dental sector currently stands and its vision for the future.
"Daegu is the Hub of South Korea’s Dental Industry; Landing the Institute is the Natural Outcome"
Hur stated that he will do everything possible until the results of the public call are announced, stressing that the National Dental Research Institute is not simply a research facility, but will serve as a key base leading the future of South Korea’s dental industry.
Hur laid out a straightforward case for why he believes Daegu is the ideal location. Daegu already functions as a central pillar of the nation’s dental industry. Major domestic implant companies are headquartered in Daegu, and the city's dental handpiece industry is regarded as the most competitive in the country.
Furthermore, Daegu boasts a dense concentration of research infrastructure, including Kyungpook National University’s School of Dentistry and Dental Hospital, DGIST, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation’s advanced medical complex, and the Korea Brain Research Institute.
"Daegu is the only city where industrial, research, and educational foundations are all fully in place," Hur said. "Bringing the National Dental Research Institute here will not only advance the cutting-edge dental medical industry, but also create a virtuous cycle of quality job creation and regional economic revitalization."
57 Billion Won Over 10 Years: A "Bridge of Hope" for Vulnerable Groups
Hur emphasized that he has also prioritized public-facing social contribution programs since taking office. "Bridge of Hope," an initiative the Daegu Metropolitan City Dental Association has continued for more than a decade, is a flagship program offering a fresh start to vulnerable residents who had given up on dental care due to financial hardship.
From 2015 to the present, approximately 1,300 residents have received dental treatment through the program, with the cumulative value of care provided totaling 57 billion won.
"This impact was only possible thanks to our members' voluntary service and dedication," Hur said. "Despite difficulties stemming from the recent economic slowdown and budget cuts, we will further strengthen cooperation with local governments to expand oral health and welfare for local residents."
Super-Aged Society: Shifting Dentistry from "Treatment" to "Prevention and Management"
"A healthy old age starts with healthy teeth," Hur noted, urging a fundamental overhaul of oral health policy as society enters a super-aged era.
"For older adults, dental health goes beyond simply being able to chew food; it is a key factor affecting nutritional status, overall health, and broader social activity as a whole," he explained. "Dentistry must also shift its paradigm from a simple treatment-centered approach to one centered on prevention, ongoing maintenance, and management."
To that end, Hur identified expanding routine checkups and oral health education, strengthening home-visit oral care services, and connecting with community care systems as crucial tasks for oral health going forward.
Tackling Cut-Rate Clinics and Unethical Ads: Care Judged by Quality, Not Price
Asked about the hiring crunch and management difficulties facing private practices, Hur struck a serious tone.
"The dental sector is currently facing a severe crisis driven by excessive competition and a deteriorating practice environment," Hur said. "An oversupply of medical institutions has led to overheated price competition and rampant unethical marketing, which undermines public trust in dentistry as a whole."
In response, the Daegu Metropolitan City Dental Association is running an intensive campaign throughout July to crack down on the harms of cut-rate dental clinics and illegal advertising while informing the public.
"Only when an environment is established where care is fairly evaluated based on quality and professionalism—rather than price—will patients ultimately receive high-quality medical services," Hur stressed.
In particular, the association has newly appointed an advisory attorney who also holds a dentist’s license to assist members with legal disputes arising during the process of opening a practice. Hur also reiterated the need to strengthen the association's authority for self-regulatory disciplinary action regarding medical advertising.
"Organizations that best understand on-the-ground reality can respond rapidly to unethical conduct," Hur said. "Self-regulatory mechanisms are urgently needed to eradicate false, exaggerated advertising and patient-solicitation practices."
A Dependable Pillar for Members and a Trusted Leader for Residents
Marking four months into his term and standing at what he described as a new starting line, Hur outlined the goals he hopes to achieve during his tenure.
"I want to be a dependable pillar for our members and build a dental community that residents can trust implicitly," Hur said. "These are challenging times, but I will see our mission through to the end—protecting members' rights and interests while creating an environment where dentists can take pride in their profession."
