[2024 JPMHC] 'Korea Night' Ignites K-Bio Fever in San Francisco Night

A large-scale networking event called 'Korea Night,' showcasing the stature of Korean pharmaceutical and bio industries, was held in San Francisco, California, USA, where the world's largest pharmaceutical and bio investment conference, the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPMHC), takes place.

On the 10th (local time), the networking event 'Korea Night @JPM' is being held in San Francisco, California, USA.
[Photo by Korea Bio Association]

'Korea Night @JPM,' held on the evening of the third day of JPMHC, January 10 (local time), is a Korea-led networking event now in its fifth year. Notably, this year's event saw a record attendance of over 500 people. An event official explained, "About half of the attendees are known to be participants based outside Korea," adding, "Global interest in the Korean bio industry is clearly increasing."

Korea Night began in 2018 when Lee Jung-kyu, CEO of Bridge Biotherapeutics, organized the first industry networking gathering during the JPMHC period. Currently, a preparatory committee led by Chairman Lee Byung-gun of GI Innovation, with members including CEO Lee Jung-kyu, CEO Lee Seung-joo of Orum Therapeutics, and Vice Chairman Lee Seung-gyu of the Korea Bio Association, manages the event as a purely private-sector-led networking occasion. The event costs were covered through sponsorships from 36 companies, including Celltrion, SK Biopharm, SK Bioscience, and Samsung Bioepis.

In addition to the preparatory committee members, various industry leaders gathered at the event, including Ko Han-seung, Chairman of the Bio Association and CEO of Samsung Bioepis; Seo Jung-jin, Chairman of Celltrion Group; Yoon Woong-seop, Vice Chairman of Ildong Pharmaceutical; Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience; Lee Dong-hoon, CEO of SK Biopharm; Park Jae-hong, President of Dong-A ST; James Park, CEO of GC Cell; Kim Jong-sung, CEO of K2B Therapeutics; and Nam Do-hyun, CEO of Aimed Bio, among others, fostering diverse exchanges.