Contribution to Enrichment of Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy Clinical Immunology: Homage to Professor You-Young Kim, the Pioneer Exploring Allergology in Korea

© Copyright The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology • The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease http://e-aair.org This year is the 38th year since the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (KAAACI) was launched. The late Prof. Seok-Young Kang of Seoul National University College of Medicine played a key role in founding the KAACI in 1972 when allergology was a totally unexplored field in Korea. Prof. Kang’s effort was succeed by one of his best disciples, Prof. You-Young Kim. Prof. Kim dedicated a significant and most productive part of his professional life to the development of allergology in Korea. In addition to his clinical healthcare activity as an allergy specialist, he was also closely involved in the initiation of research activities in the area of allergy in Korea. In the early 1980s, Prof. Kim studied at the University of Southampton and at Dokkyo University and developed close relationships with outstanding scholars such as Prof. Holgate and Prof. Makino. With research experience at Southampton, Prof. Kim became the first Korean allergist to publish a research article in an international journal. He was continuously involved in every single activity of KAACI for 30 years since beginning his career as an allergist in 1980. He participated in diverse national epidemiologic surveys and made an effort to determine major allergens in Korea. He also discovered novel inhalant allergens such as outdoor spider mites and proved their role as a major occupational allergen for the first time. In the era of genomics, he and his colleagues took a leap forward in the field of asthma related gene study. In addition to his achievements in education, research, and clinical works, he has consistently filled key posts in KAAACI and contributed to the expansion of its academic activity. He also established the Korean Asthma Allergy Foundation (KAF) and made an effort to distribute treatment guidelines for allergic diseases. He has led the nationwide campaign and education of physicians and people to enhance awareness of asthma and to improve the quality of allergic practice in Korea. He also initiated the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global AlliContribution to Enrichment of Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy Clinical Immunology: Homage to Professor You-Young Kim, the Pioneer Exploring Allergology in Korea