Awards Presented to Outstanding Local Governments, Organizations, and Contributors
Sharing Best Practices and Expanding Impact in Local Communities
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong) and the National Institute for Korean Medicine Development held the "2025 Korean Medicine Infertility Project Performance Conference" at the President Hotel in Seoul on September 12.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Institute for Korean Medicine Development held the "2025 Korean Medicine Infertility Project Performance Conference" on the 12th. Photo by National Institute for Korean Medicine Development
This conference was organized to recognize local governments, organizations, and individuals who successfully implemented the 2024 Korean Medicine Infertility Project, and to share and spread outstanding cases.
The event was attended by more than 80 stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Association of Korean Medicine, local governments nationwide, and regional Korean medicine associations.
Starting this year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has begun providing full-scale national support for the Korean Medicine Infertility Project. The National Institute for Korean Medicine Development is responsible for expanding treatment, supporting project monitoring and evaluation, and disseminating achievements.
The first part of the conference featured awards for outstanding local governments, organizations, and individuals.
The top award in the project category (Minister of Health and Welfare Award) went to Iksan City in North Jeolla Province. Iksan City was highly praised for increasing pregnancy success rates through customized treatments in collaboration with local medical institutions, and for establishing a stable project management foundation through close cooperation with the local Korean medicine association.
The Excellence Award was presented to Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province and South Jeolla Province. Hwaseong City expanded the project by providing herbal medicine support for men and additional herbal medicine for stable pregnancy upon successful conception. South Jeolla Province achieved both administrative efficiency and clinical outcomes by implementing integrated project management at the provincial level, standardized treatment protocols, and a simultaneous treatment model for couples.
The Merit Award was given to Gwangju City and Eunpyeong District in Seoul.
The National Institute for Korean Medicine Development President's Award was presented to the Korean medicine associations of the award-winning local governments. In addition, nine individuals who contributed to the operation and expansion of the Korean Medicine Infertility Project received commendations from the Minister of Health and Welfare.
The individual commendation recipients were Kim Jihyun (Iksan City, North Jeolla Province), Jang Il-nam (Hwaseong City Korean Medicine Association, Gyeonggi Province), Yoon Young-chae (South Jeolla Province), Noh Joo-yeon (Gwangju City), Choi Il-seok (Eunpyeong District, Seoul), Ki Seong-hoon (Gangseo District Korean Medicine Association, Seoul), Cho Bit-na (South Chungcheong Province), Han Hye-yeon (Gunsan City, North Jeolla Province), and Seong Dong-min (National Institute for Korean Medicine Development).
In the essay category, Han Uihyo (Gangnam District, Seoul), Kim In-ae (Gyeonggi Province), and Oh Jeong-a (South Jeolla Province) received the Minister's Award. Their essays were selected as outstanding cases for sincerely addressing their experiences with the Korean Medicine Infertility Project from the perspectives of both providers and participants in the community setting.
During the second part of the event, the National Institute for Korean Medicine Development presented the current status of the Korean Medicine Infertility Project, and the award-winning local governments and essay writers shared their cases. A special lecture was also delivered by Noh Stella, Director of External Cooperation at the Association of Korean Women Doctors of Korean Medicine.
Jung Young-hoon, Director of Korean Medicine Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "For Korean medicine to contribute to overcoming ultra-low birth rates, active participation and cooperation among the central government, local governments, and regional Korean medicine associations are essential. The government will also strive to improve pregnancy and birth rates by establishing and expanding a support system for Korean medicine infertility treatment in local communities."
Lee Hwa-dong, Acting President of the National Institute for Korean Medicine Development, said, "I deeply appreciate everyone who has diligently carried out the Korean Medicine Infertility Project in the field. The National Institute for Korean Medicine Development will continue to actively support community-based Korean medicine infertility projects in cooperation with relevant organizations."
The National Institute for Korean Medicine Development plans to publish last year's project operation cases and participants' essays as booklets and post them in the resources section of the institute's website.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
