The 30-Year History of the Japan–Korea Joint Meeting on Medical Physics

Abstract

The Japan–Korea Joint Meeting on Medical Physic held the first Meeting in Seoul in September 1996. Including the preparation period for the first Meeting, exchanges between Japanese and Korean medical physicists through this meeting have accumulated a history of approximately 30 years. Except for the 9th Meeting, which was postponed by one year due to the spread of the coronavirus, the meeting has been held alternately in Japan and Korea every three years. In September 2024, the 10th Meeting was held in Nagoya. Over the past 30 years, radiation medicine may be characterized by the rapid advancement of four-dimensional imaging applied to diagnosis and treatment, the widespread adoption of high-precision radiation therapies such as IMRT, the development of deep learning-based AI and its trial use in various fields of radiation medicine during the last decade, and the establishment of systematic quality assurance (QA) to ensure safe and accurate radiation medical practices. As a result, medical physics has advanced, and its role in radiation medicine has also grown. Over the course of the ten meetings, these topics were addressed as themes in invited lectures and symposia, and were also frequently presented in general sessions. Additionally, discussions were held on the education, training, professional development, and future prospects of medical physicists. The Japan–Korea Meeting is a joint event co-hosted by the two countries, which are easily accessible to each other. There is no doubt that the original goal of fostering mutual understanding and internationalization among society members in Japan and Korea has been achieved through the ten meetings held to date. Furthermore, Korea’s economic growth during this period has brought the economic levels of both countries to a similar standard, enabling fruitful exchanges of information between them. Moving forward, it will be crucial to consider how to expand upon the achievements of the Japan–Korea Meeting. In this context, a key consideration may be how to establish a relationship with the Asia–Oceania Congress of Medical Physics, which began shortly after the Japan–Korea Meeting was initiated.