I am Sook-hyang Jeong, honored to serve as the 16th Chairperson of the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (KASL).

Since its establishment in 1995 with 97 full members, the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver has grown into a prominent academic organization with 865 full and 1,392 general members as of the end of 2024. With decades of effort and dedication, I extend my heartful gratitude to our senior members and all of our members for their dedication over the past 30 years to advancing our society. It is a profound privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading this esteemed organization.

Since 2014, our official academic conference, The Liver Week, has evolved into a distinguished international platform for scholarly exchange and communication among liver disease specialists. It continues to play a pivotal role in advancing clinical practice, research, and education. Our official academic journal, Clinical and Molecular Hepatology (CMH), achieved significant progress in 2024, attaining an impressive impact factor of 14.

Despite the challenges posed by legislative conflicts in 2024, our association maintained its unwavering commitment to its activities, culminating in the successful conclusion of the academic conference. This success is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our current executive team and members, for which I am deeply grateful.

As President, I am committed to preserving our proud traditions and core values while fostering the growth of both our association and its members amid a rapidly evolving medical environment. In particular, I aim to successfully organize the 2025 Academic Conference, facilitate robust research initiatives, and cultivate the next generation of hepatologists. Together with the Board of Directors, I will work diligently to fulfill our social responsibilities and strive to position CMH as the world’s leading hepatology journal.

I humbly ask for your active participation and valuable feedback as we move forward. I wish you and your loved ones health and happiness in 2025.

Thank you.