Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital

The following is a full-text of the congratulatory address by Dr. Dai-Won Yoon, Chairman of Board of Trustees, Hallym University, at the 4th Hallym-Uppsala Symposium on May 4, 2011:-Ed.

Dr. Oberg, Distinguished Guests, ladies and gentlemen:

It is a great honor to congratulate the opening of the fourth Hallym-Uppsala symposium at this great institution which boasts a long history and a time-honored tradition.

This symposium topic is molecular base biomarkers, which are defined as specific indicators for predicting the functions of a human organs, the state of a disease, and a treatment prognosis like a traceable agent antibody after infection. We are thinking of this symposium as a valuable learning experience to share their views with Uppsala speakers who are the world’s top-notch professionals in science and technology. We are determined to make what we will be discussing today one of our essential basic research objectives in the future.

I am particularly honored and thankful to all speakers of Uppsala who will share their expert knowledge and experience in biomarkers.

Our visit to Uppsala has yet another positive significance. We are now ready to go ahead with a project sponsored by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea to establish a joint research institute with Uppsala. Hallym is committed to activating research for the most advanced medical topics at this joint research institute.

To update you on developments at Hallym, we are currently building a hospital with 800 patient-beds in the suburbs of Seoul, specializing in neuroscience. This hospital will be open in September, 2012. Hallym is also planning to establish a world-class translational research center by 2014 on a total floor space of 18,000 square meters.

The new facility will play a key role in promoting joint research programs with Hallym’s affiliated institutions such as Columbia University, Cornell University in the U.S., Nagasaki University in Japan, Padova University in Italy. If both Uppsala and Hallym agreed to take up joint programs, and the translational research center and will be able to work together on them.

In this era of globalization and biotech engineering which is undergoing revolutionary changes today, we have a firm belief and hope that we will be able to realize our vision, “Small but great,” through joint endeavors with world-renowned universities like Uppsala.

I have to thank President Hallberg again for his concern, support and advice that have enabled us to come a long way in our bilateral collaboration, and to set our future goals.

Last but not least, I am also grateful to Professor Oberg who has been the very architect of the cooperative relationship between Hallym and Uppsala.

Once again, I want to thank you all the speakers of Uppsala who have acknowledged us to share their most advanced ideas in this medical field.

Thank you very much.