대한위암학회

On behalf of the 21st Executive Committee of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association, I’m delighted to greet all our members and supporters.

Founded in 1993 as the Korean Gastric Cancer Research Association and becoming an academic society in 1996, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association is now celebrating nearly 30 years of dedication in the field of gastric cancer.

We have also played an active role on the global stage, successfully hosting the International Gastric Cancer Conference (IGCC) in 1999 and 2011. Since 2014, we have organized KINGCA Week, a hallmark event that has grown into one of Korea’s most prominent international medical conferences and a true source of pride for our community.

In addition, our official journal, the Journal of Gastric Cancer, was first published in 2001. Since then, it has achieved remarkable milestones, being indexed in PubMed in 2011, SCIE in 2017, and MEDLINE in 2024. The journal’s impact and reputation continue to grow, as its current impact factor has reached 3.8.

Our gastric cancer treatment guidelines, which were first published in 2005, were developed into a multidisciplinary, evidence-based guideline, and are now revised every two years to incorporate the latest research findings.

We are also leading world-class research in gastric cancer through our four affiliated research groups: the Korean Laparoendoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study group (KLASS), the Korean Quality of life in Stomach cancer patient Study group (KOQUSS), the Reduced Ports Gastrointestinal Surgery Study Group (REDUSS), and Perioperative Intra-Peritoneal & Systemic Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer Group (PIPS-GC).

We sincerely thank our founding Chairman, Jin-Pok Kim, along with all the advisory committee members, past and present executives, and every member whose dedication has driven the growth of our association.

In this term, our executive team will focus on three key priorities.

• First, we still strive to enhance member rights and interests.
  
  We aim to improve the currently inadequate insurance coverage for gastric cancer, expand each member’s capacity to provide treatment for gastric cancer and related conditions, and actively support affiliated research groups and branch meetings. We also plan to encourage the engagement of new and female members, building an academic society that offers practical, meaningful support to everyone involved.
• Second, we will expand our international presence.
  
  We will establish a preparatory committee to ensure the success of the 2029 International Conference on Gastric Cancer (IGCC) and reinforce collaborations with academic partners across Asia. Through KINGCA, we plan to host joint sessions with global societies and enhance the focus on gastric cancer treatment guideline sessions. Additionally, we will continue to advance the Journal of Gastric Cancer, aiming to establish it as the world’s leading authority in the field.
• Third, we will continue to develop our society into a truly multidisciplinary organization.
  
  This includes revisions of gastric cancer treatment guidelines and textbooks, as well as strengthening surveys on gastric cancer surgery and endoscopic treatment. We also aim to encourage the involvement of non-surgical members and enhance collaboration with related academic societies and research groups, including the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research, the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group, the Korean Cancer Study Group, the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Korean Cancer Association, and the Korean Surgical Society.

Dear valued members,

We are committed to leading the Korean Gastric Cancer Association beyond academic excellence, becoming a global society that leads not only in research but also in patient care and the protection of member rights.

Your continued support and active participation will be much appreciated.