Kangwon National UniversityCollege of Medicine · School of Medicine

Dean’s Message

Kangwon National University College of Medicine & Graduate School of Medicine.

Grounded in the founding philosophy of Silsa-gusi (實事求是), meaning the pursuit of truth based on facts, Kangwon National University College of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine is dedicated to nurturing future leaders who will contribute to the advancement of regional healthcare, the progress of medical science, and the promotion of human health. We sincerely appreciate your visit to our institution.

Established in 1997 through the collective aspirations of the local community to address the shortage of medical resources in Gangwon Province, our College of Medicine celebrates its 28th anniversary this year and is preparing for a new leap forward toward its 30th anniversary in 2027. Over the years, we have faithfully fulfilled our responsibility to address regional healthcare challenges and improve public health. Today, we envision a greater future built upon three core pillars: medical education, biomedical research, and community service.

Our college pursues three fundamental missions.

First, we educate physicians who can proactively respond to the rapidly evolving healthcare environment. Beyond the transmission of medical knowledge, we aim to cultivate professionals equipped with strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and interdisciplinary thinking.

Second, we advance medicine through interdisciplinary and convergent research. Through initiatives such as the selection of a Basic Research Laboratory (BRL) project in 2021 focused on malaria infection control, and the operation of the Department of Big Data Medical Convergence, we continue to embrace challenges that shape the future of medicine.

Third, we strive to build an academic community that grows together with the region while contributing to global health. In close collaboration with Kangwon National University Hospital, we fulfill our core mission in public healthcare and endeavor to develop hand in hand with the local community.

Our college offers systematic basic medical education, integrated basic–clinical education, clinical clerkships, and medical humanities education. As a result, we have earned the highest accreditation status—six-year accreditation—from the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (KIMEE). Through the organic integration of basic and clinical sciences, the training of primary care physicians, and the strengthening of essential regional healthcare competencies, we work closely with Kangwon National University Hospital to ensure that our graduates are fully prepared to perform effectively in real-world clinical settings.

Established in 2000, Kangwon National University Hospital is a 680-bed national university hospital and a major medical hub in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. The hospital operates a wide range of specialized centers, including a Cancer Center, Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Center, Respiratory Specialty Disease Center, Geriatric Healthcare Center, and Children’s Hospital, providing students with comprehensive and in-depth clinical training opportunities.

Today, we face both new opportunities arising from artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, as well as challenges related to gaps in regional healthcare delivery. In response, Kangwon National University College of Medicine is expanding admissions through regional talent tracks to cultivate local medical professionals, strengthening programs to train AI-oriented medical scientists and community-based physicians responsible for essential and public healthcare, and enhancing faculty recruitment and educational infrastructure to further elevate the quality of medical education. Through these efforts, we seek to embody both the dynamism of a young institution leading advanced medical education and the responsibility of serving as a steadfast pillar of regional healthcare.

Despite its relatively short history, our College of Medicine has consistently pursued a path of challenge and innovation. Together with our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the local community, we will continue to grow as a trusted medical college—extending our impact beyond Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province to become a central force in the advancement of healthcare in the Republic of Korea. We remain committed to ensuring that our challenges become a source of hope for the region and that our innovations serve as milestones for the future of medicine.

To support the transition to an integrated six-year medical curriculum, to train physicians dedicated to essential and public healthcare, and to cultivate future medical scientists, we will persistently pursue the recruitment of outstanding faculty, the expansion of state-of-the-art educational facilities, and continuous curriculum reform. Through change and innovation in a rapidly evolving medical environment, we will continue to present the vision of a young, forward-looking College of Medicine leading the future of medical education.

The 15th Dean of Kangwon National University College of Medicine & Graduate School of Medicine

Thank you.