President’s Message

I sincerely thank you for visiting the website of the Korean Society of Pulmonary Hypertension.

The Korean Society of Pulmonary Hypertension is a professional academic organization that began as a study group in 2017 and was established as an independent society in 2022 to protect patients’ lives and pioneer the future of treatment against the severe and intractable disease group known as pulmonary hypertension. We have been striving to establish standards for pulmonary hypertension care across various fields—from clinical practice, research, and education to policy proposals—and to serve as a bridge connecting patients, medical professionals, and society.

Pulmonary hypertension is a Pulmonary Vascular Disease, a severe and intractable disease group where elevated pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance can ultimately lead to right ventricular failure and sudden cardiac death. Overall, the prognosis is poor, and pulmonary arterial hypertension, in particular, is a disease that has not yet reached the stage of a ‘cure.’ Domestic pulmonary hypertension patients are estimated to number around 500,000, representing 1% of the total population. In the case of pulmonary arterial hypertension, which is classified as a rare disease, the number is expected to reach approximately 6,000 when accounting for undiagnosed patients.

Fortunately, over the past 30 years, various targeted therapies have been developed worldwide, leading to remarkable progress in the field of treatment. However, the reality in Korea has yet to fully catch up. It is a fact that many patients are missing out on opportunities for early detection and appropriate treatment due to low awareness of the disease, delayed diagnoses, and limitations in the introduction of advanced therapeutics.

Accordingly, inspired by the words of the ancient Roman philosopher and statesman Cicero, “While I breathe, I hope (Dum Spiro, Spero),” the Korean Society of Pulmonary Hypertension is conducting the ‘Lung Preview Hope Campaign’ to deliver tangible hope to patients. Through this campaign, we have held National Assembly forums and press conferences, clearly amplifying the voices of our society, the Korean Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients Association, and the Korean Organization for Rare Diseases in the arenas of society and policy. Furthermore, thanks to the active participation of our members, health lecture campaigns are spreading to hospitals nationwide, and public interest in pulmonary hypertension is gradually increasing.

The Korean Society of Pulmonary Hypertension now aims to take another leap forward as a professional society that fulfills its social responsibilities beyond its academic achievements. We aim to elevate the standard of domestic pulmonary hypertension care by building a more meticulous early diagnosis system and continuously advancing treatment strategies based on scientific evidence. Furthermore, we will actively embrace our social role in creating a patient-centered medical environment and driving improvements in systems and policies.

To realize this vision, in 2026, in collaboration with the East Asian Society of Pulmonary Hypertension, we plan to launch the academic journal Right Heart Journal and publish clinical practice guidelines for pulmonary hypertension. This will establish domestic treatment standards while simultaneously strengthening our international standing.

In addition, we plan to hold the 11th Annual Academic Conference ‘PH Korea 2026’ at Coex Magok in Seoul on June 26–27 to further expand the venue for academic exchange and cooperation.

I believe that when the wisdom, passion, and solidarity of our members are added to this journey, the future for pulmonary hypertension patients will undoubtedly change. I am confident that the day will come when all our dreams become reality.

I deeply appreciate all the interest and support you extend to the Korean Society of Pulmonary Hypertension.

Wook-Jin Chung 

President, Korean Society of Pulmonary Hypertension