"Creating Innovation in Medical Devices"… MFDS Holds Ceremony for "Medical Devices Day"

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced that it held the ‘17th Medical Device Day’ ceremony on the 29th at Lotte Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, under the theme "Adding Innovation to Medical Device Safety! A Promise for a Better World!"

Oh Yu-kyung, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, is delivering a commemorative speech at the 17th Medical Device Day ceremony.
[Photo by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety]

Since 2008, the MFDS has designated May 29, the date of enactment and promulgation of the Medical Device Act, as Medical Device Day to enhance consumer understanding of medical devices and widely promote the importance of safety, holding a commemorative ceremony annually. This year’s ceremony was attended by about 250 people from government, industry, and academia related to medical devices, including Kim Young-min, President of the Korea Medical Devices Industry Association, and Lee Young-gyu, Chairman of the Korea Medical Devices Cooperative, providing an opportunity for harmony and communication.

Awards were also presented to those who contributed to the development of the medical device industry. Lee Jun-hyuk, CEO of DK Medical Solution, who contributed to the development of the medical device industry by successfully developing and manufacturing digital X-rays in the X-ray imaging market that had been entirely dependent on imports, received the Silver Tower Industrial Medal. Song Seung-jae, CEO of Life Semantics, who actively contributed to the enactment of the Digital Medical Products Act, received the Industrial Medal. In total, 10 medals, awards, and commendations were presented.

At the event, alongside the ‘Medical Device History Exhibition’ reflecting on the past of the medical device industry, lectures were held by Hwang Hee, CEO of Kakao Healthcare, and Ha Jung-woo, Head of Naver Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center, to prepare for the changing digital future environment.

Meanwhile, to mark the 17th Medical Device Day, the MFDS plans to designate May 27?31 as ‘Medical Device Safety Week’ and hold various events to directly communicate with the public and industry and raise awareness of the importance of medical device safety. During this Medical Device Safety Week, promotions on the safe use of in vitro diagnostic medical devices (blood glucose meters), safe use of dental implants, and innovative medical devices and medical device approval systems will be conducted, along with explanatory sessions on the medical device product renewal system.

Oh Yu-kyung, Commissioner of the MFDS, said, “The medical device industry is facing various opportunities and challenges due to technological advancements such as AI and big data,” adding, “In February, Korea and the United States jointly held the International Artificial Intelligence Medical Products Regulatory Symposium (AIRIS) successfully, laying the foundation for global regulatory leadership.” She continued, "Through continuous regulatory innovation and global cooperation, we will create new pathways for innovative technologies to enter the global market."