Choi Seung-hoon

President, International Society of Oriental Medicine (ISOM)

2020 began with the outbreak of COVID-19 and we spent every single day of the year occupied by the topic of COVID-19. Although the impact of the pandemic has been predicted by experts since years ago, in reality, it was beyond what we anticipated, and despite our dire desire, the end of the pandemic is still unknown.

In the 1959 and 1960 campaigns, President John F.Kennedy emphasized the Chinese word “危機” saying that "the Chinese word has two meanings : 'Danger' and Opportunity' 

Is that true? Is a crisis a danger to some while it’s an opportunity to others? The answer is being revealed through the entire journey of COVID-19. For companies and organizations such as Amazon, Netflix, and Zoom that pursued online, artificial intelligence, advanced science and technology, and advanced distribution systems, it was an opportunity to gain a clear advantage in the field, and it was only a catastrophic risk for groups or individuals who did not.

In China, where COVID-19 started, 92.5% of confirmed patients have been treated with traditional Chinese medicine, and about 20% of confirmed patients in Korea also benefited from the online Korean traditional medical treatment via telemedicine. Traditional medicine, which was pushed out of conventional medical care by western medicine due to insufficient measures to deal with infectious diseases in the past, is being re-examined by playing a successful role in the treatment of COVID-19 throughout the last year. 'K-Medicine 2020 International Online Conference: The Post-Corona Era, Finding Directions for Integrative Medicine', recently held by the Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM), was a well-made academic event that covered the above issues. Ironically, traditional medicine has an opportunity to reverse itself in the face of the crisis of pandemic.

In 1973, the 3rd World Congress of Acupuncture (WCA) was successfully held at the Chosun Hotel in Seoul, and with the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Han Yo-wook, then president of the AKOM, proposed the initiation of the International Society of Oriental Medicine (ISOM) in Las Vegas, the USA in 1975. ISOM is an academic society with the longest history amongst the global traditional medical community, and it is one of the major international achievements made by the leadership of Oriental medicine in the 70s.

However, despite the early inception, there was a lack of essential pursuit and continuous efforts as an academic society, and the associated leadership of the academic society fell short in meeting the expectations of domestic and foreign academia by operating a closed operation focused mainly on friendship. Meanwhile, with the strong support and management of the Chinese government, the focal point of the world's traditional medicine field was shifted to the World Federation of Acupuncture Societies (WFAS, 1984) and the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS, 2003). In the West, academics related to traditional medicine centered on doctors such as ICMART were also growing steadily.

In my opinion, COVID-19 is the last danger and the opportunity to ISOM. If this opportunity is not properly utilized, ISOM will no longer have the value to prolong. What's the message COVID-19 has given us? The level of excellence in the content should continuously remain high, while the method of delivery is to shift from primarily the existing offline to online-oriented. ISOM should realize.

For ISOM to have an identity as an academic society, the subjects of ISOM must be scholars. It is no question that scholars are the main players of academic development and exchange, which are the center activities of the society, and the executives of the society should be their enablers. For that, it is necessary to organize academic committees in each field, centered on scholars in ISOM itself, and conduct intense academic activities. If limiting to ICOM (International Congress of Oriental Medicine), which is held once every two years, is insufficient, create an Online Mini-ICOM Conference for each disease area every month. Furthermore, it is necessary to explore and embrace experts in traditional or integrative medicine from around the world. Also, to prepare for the future, students must actively participate by utilizing the internship system.

Also, the activities specified in the ISOM rules must faithfully be carried out. Since its inception, it has focused solely on organizing the ICOM, and has neglected what has been stated: “International research, development and investigation; formation of a comprehensive information network; medical service; cooperation projects with international organizations such as WHO, and other projects necessary for the development of ISOM.” If a project is decided by all’s agreement, it should be deemed necessary and must be carried out with integrity. If not, we should revisit the bylaws.

The aim of the ISOM executive member countries, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, is common, which is integrative medicine. Japan is already pursuing integrative medicine by eliminating the traditional medical doctor system during the Meiji Restoration centered around western medicine, Taiwan is attempting integrative medicine by actively supporting dual licenses systematically, and Korea is pursuing integrative medicine centered on Korean medicine. A desirable integrative medicine model should be created by discussing and exchanging different institutions and experiences under a common goal.

Besides, each member country should support as a bridge or ladder for the development of policies related to traditional medicine. Also, if it can lead the supplementary work on the ICD-11 traditional medicine chapter proposed by the Taiwanese representative at the last board of directors meeting, ISOM will play its fundamental role.

While various academic activities at home and abroad have been shrinking due to COVID-19 this year, ISOM must quietly and precisely prepare for such a comprehensive reform to show the direction of the post-COVID-19 era at the next ICOM in Korea.

I dare to declare that the effective beginning of the 21st century is 2021 with the onset of COVID-19 recovery.

Lastly, I want COVID-19 to become a meaningful crisis for ISOM.