KMCRIC

The year of 2018, which was really exciting, has passed and the hopeful 2019 has arrived. I wish you a happy New Year for your health and new compassion.

The Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (KSBMB) has celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, and has established itself as one of the leading academic societies in the field of Life Sciences and Medicine in Korea. This can not have been accomplished without the continuing efforts and unsparing participation of the members and staff, ever since the merger of the two Societies, the Korean Society of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (KSMBMB) and the Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (KSBMB).

In terms of quantity, the number of members has quadrupled since the merger, and we have generated synergy by becoming the largest academic society in Korea. Qualitatively, the two journals published by KSBMB are also making great progress. Experimental & Molecular Medicine (EMM) has become the world-class journal with the highest impact factor among Korean journals (2017 IF 5.584) and BMB Reports is growing, too (2017 IF 3.085). Both journals feature outstanding papers and they are emerging as preferred journals by researchers, both at home and abroad, in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology and medical science. As the president of KSBMB, I will stand at the center of the Society and together with our members share the progress of Korean science and technology to the world.

KSBMB International Conference 2019 will be a conference to immerse new changes. This year, the Conference will be held at ICC JEJU in Jeju Island to promote the new future and progressive change of KSBMB. Under the theme of ""Beyond 70 years of KSBMB in ISLAND: Integrative Science of Life and New Direction”, the conference will be held from June 2 to 5, 2019. The theme is meant to encourage the Society, researchers and bio-related companies to recognize the new trend of change and together to move toward a more mutually beneficial direction. In 2019, KSBMB will host 6 outstanding plenary lectures 〔by (Johan Auwerx, Christer Betsholtz, Paul S. Frenette, Luca Scorrano, Ted M. Dawson, etc.)〕, 20 symposia, poster sessions and exhibitions of high-tech equipment and technology by the domestic and global companies. There will also be a biomedical public lecture targeting teenagers of Jeju Island and Young Scientist Program to encourage enthusiastic young scientists and students.