Dear Colleagues and Friends,

We are thrilled to announce PRS Korea 2024, scheduled for November 17 to 19. This event has consistently welcomed both KPRS members and international colleagues, underscoring our commitment to overcoming challenges and promoting global collaboration in plastic and reconstructive surgery. We take great pride in our contributions to the field, made possible through the active participation of our international community.

To meet the growing global demands, the organizing committee has curated MOU sessions with partner countries to promote mutual understanding, deepen our shared knowledge, and expand our common experiences. Additionally, we have prioritized addressing both current and future global issues by featuring renowned speakers and guests who are among the most influential plastic surgeons worldwide.

PRS Korea 2024 aims to expand its core focus areas and build connections that improve global communication. We hope that this conference’s participants will become regular attendees, consistently joining us alongside new colleagues at future events.

We look forward to welcoming you to a conference that promises to be enriching, inspiring, and instrumental in advancing the field of plastic surgery.

Warm regards,

Sung Tack, Kwon, M.D., Ph.D
Chairman of General Assembly, PRS Korea 2024 Organizing Committee

Dear Respected Members of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons,

The PRS KOREA 2024 conference will be held from November 17 to 19 at the Seoul Parnas Hotel. This year's theme is "Innovate, Integrate, Inspire."

PRS KOREA, an international conference, has been successfully held by the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons each year since 2011. It is the largest plastic surgery conference in Asia, representing the entire continent. In 2023, PRS KOREA drew over 1,300 plastic surgeons, including more than 300 participants from 38 countries, further solidifying its position as a truly international event.

As we enter the second year of the post-COVID era, PRS KOREA 2024 is anticipated to be a vibrant conference, attracting increased participation from both domestic and international plastic surgeons. Among the eight MOU nations, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand will conduct MOU sessions, with Germany participating as a guest nation. We anticipate a lively academic exchange.

The conference will involve collaborations with seven accompanying Societies and Forums, including the Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, Seoul Rhinoplasty Forum 2024, Seoul Breast Meeting 2024, and the 6th Asian Forum for Fat and Stem Cells, K Bone Forum, Academic Forum of the Korean Plastic Surgery Research Council, Korean Academic Association of Perforator Flap, ensuring a rich and in-depth program.

This year, PRS KOREA has invited four distinguished speakers, including two keynote speakers. The first keynote speaker, Professor Paul Cederna from the University of Michigan, is well-known for his extensive basic research and has garnered significant attention for his contributions to neuromodulation in both research and surgical practices. The second keynote speaker, Scott Hollenbeck, has been invited to speak at the Song-Baek Lecture. He is known for his work in breast surgery and plays an active role in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), where he currently serves as the ASPS President-Elect. Moreover, over 100 international speakers will participate in more than 120 sessions, covering a wide range of topics in plastic surgery.

Additionally, we are honored to welcome two special speakers this year. The first special speaker, Dr. Dogan, has successfully organized Fellowships and Cadaver educational programs, both of which have garnered substantial interest. Over the past two years, a remarkable 1500+ surgeons from around the world have traveled to Istanbul to participate in these programs. The "Teorhinoplasty" technique is currently recognized as the world's most popular and innovative rhinoplasty method, with tens of thousands of surgeons incorporating it into their practices. Dr. Dogan, as a leading expert, is invited to international congresses frequently as an honored guest speaker, where he not only discusses his technique but also performs live surgical demonstrations. The second special speaker is Dr. Babak J. Mehrara, the current President of the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. His areas of expertise include plastic and reconstructive surgery, breast and facial reconstruction, microsurgery, lymphedema, and abdominal wall repair.

Despite significant advancements in plastic surgery over the past several decades, the field currently faces numerous challenges both locally and internationally. To overcome these obstacles, it is crucial to identify and prioritize emerging disease groups that align with the needs of an aging and technologically advanced society. Additionally, we must develop and establish these areas academically while fulfilling our role as a leading group in global plastic surgery through active international collaboration during this transition to the digital era. PRS KOREA 2024 has carefully crafted its program to reflect these key points. As an international conference, our primary objective is to feature lectures by a diverse array of international speakers from not only the Americas and Europe but also from various Asian countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, China, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Furthermore, we aim to facilitate dynamic academic exchanges between these international experts and Korean plastic surgeons.

Through our efforts, we strive toward integrating Asia with the global community, establishing our conference as a premier international forum in plastic surgery. To achieve this, we have expanded our program to include new sessions that cover various emerging disease groups, in addition to the existing ones. These sessions focus on cutting-edge regenerative medicine in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, biomaterials, medical devices, digital therapeutics, and other areas of convergent research. Furthermore, we have introduced dedicated sessions that boldly integrate translational medicine into plastic surgery, enhanced our Free Papers through the High Impact presentation session, and offered a diverse range of Industrial sessions. As a prominent leader in cosmetic plastic surgery, representing both Asia and the global stage, we have carefully organized sessions that feature the latest advancements in rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, mammoplasty, liposuction, minimally invasive surgery and more. Our goal is to foster a dynamic and engaging platform for discussion among all conference participants.

We are confident that the diverse programs of PRS KOREA 2024, together with the academic changes that will take place at the conference, will foster innovation, integrate various disciplines to tackle challenges in plastic surgery, and inspire advancements in the field.

On behalf of the conference, we extend our sincere thanks to Eun-su Park and Ji-Ung Park, the academic directors, and the associate directors for their meticulous and effective preparation of the conference program. We also express our deep appreciation to Byung-jun Kim, the General Affairs Director, other directors, Director Kim Nuri, and the entire conference staff for their diligent efforts in organizing the conference. Furthermore, we are grateful to our sponsors for their crucial support in ensuring the smooth running of the conference and to our donors for their generous contributions and heartfelt dedication to PRS KOREA 2024.

Bringing together participants from both Korea and other nations, we hope that this conference will be an enjoyable and meaningful gathering that promotes wide-ranging discussions among the participants. Thank you.

Hak Chang, M.D., Ph.D
President of Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons