Inaugural Address of Society President November 2008 Dear Members of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons! It is a great honor for me to take upon myself an important task of our Society’s Presidency, but I feel, on the other hand, a heavy sense of responsibility. Forty two years have passed since our Society was established. In the meantime, our Society has made great strides thanks to the sacrificial efforts of past and present Members and Board. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to former President Min, Gyung Won and Chief Director Kim, Uh Gyung for having made every effort possible to develop our Society for the past two years. For the last ten years, our Members have wisely overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, such as IMF crisis, value-added taxes, disintegration of treatment areas, distorted images of plastic and reconstructive surgeons and unrealistic treatment fees, and will continuously try to solve other pending issues in the future. However, the current economic conditions make each Member more difficult to cope with problems, and hospitals have difficulties in training interns or residents due to the shortage of middle- grade doctors, the reduction in patients for reconstruction etc. Recently, the government is again referring to the problem of value-added taxes and putting pressure on us with respect to taxation administration, using the standards different from past ones. In addition, the society in general and patients ask us to observe higher moral criteria and to offer the highest quality of health care, respectively. To adapt ourselves to such changes in external circumstances, we should reform ourselves, especially our ways of thinking. In addition, we should predict and provide against forthcoming changes. To achieve such ends, we should accumulate our wisdom in a way that is creative and future-oriented. I will do my best to put the wisdom in practice. I will open my ears to the various voices, opinions and requests of our Members. I will work out the best solutions for opposing views or arguments by means of dialogue, persuasion and democratic procedure. You Members are the very owners of the Society. Please ask the Society for many things and reprove the Society for problems. But please do not avoid helping the Society, when the Society needs you. I and Directors will do our utmost to get near to you and make the Society serve you and trusted by you. Our Society earnestly requires your participation and interest. I promise you to try my best so that I will take pride in my achievements in two years. Once more, I ask you to give support and cooperation to our Society. Thank you. Yang, Won Yong President Korean Society for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons Inaugural Address of Chief Director November 2008 Dear Members of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, It is a great honor for me to assume a heavy responsibility of the 22nd Chief Directorship Indeed, we are surrounded by not a few difficulties, but it is the most important for us to consolidate the harmony and solidarity among our Members that will make it possible to get over internal conflicts. Therefore, I and the 22nd Board will put a top priority on making efforts to promote friendships among our Members and to develop our Society. However, such efforts will bear no fruit without your active interest and participation. I hope you will help me and our Board Members to make our Society friendlier to each other and academically advanced in two years. Thank you. Kim, SukWha Chief Director Korean Society for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons