As part of an ongoing partnership with Pusan National University, students have a new opportunity to learn about Korean Traditional Medicine. 

On October 19 & 20, two experts in Korean Traditional Medicine will be on National University of Health Sciences’ campus to share how they treat sports medicine and related injuries. Hyunsam Lee, KMD, PhD, and Hanseong Kim, KMD, will discuss how they treat patients with shoulder, low back, knee, and ankle pain for instant pain relief. They will describe different types of sports injuries and musculoskeletal disorders, show how to properly assess patients, select and apply point locations, and more. Additionally, the lecture will provide hands-on learning and demonstration of various acupuncture techniques.  

The event will be from 5-9 p.m. October 19th and 20th, in Janse Hall Room 139. It is free and open to everyone. 

“These presentations are a great way for students to learn about different theories and modalities apart from Chinese medicine,” said Hyundo Franz Kim, PhD, MSOM, LAc, Assistant Dean of the Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine program at National University of Health Sciences. “About half of the lectures are dedicated to hands-on learning and demonstration, which students have a great interest in.” 

Dr. Lee and Dr. Kim are both leaders in their field. Dr. Lee is President of OSUNGDANG Korean Medicine Clinic along with a team doctor and Medical Committee Member of the Korean Professional Football League. Dr. Kim is President of the UNEED Korean Medicine Clinic and Vice President of the Society of Sports Korean Medicine. Both also provided care in the Athlete’s Village Polyclinic at the 2018 Pyeong Chang Olympic Games. 

National University of Health Sciences began a partnership with Pusan National University in December 2019. The university provided free online courses about mental health, cosmetic treatments, primary care and sports medicine in 2020 and 2021. They also donated accessories and herbal syrups. 

Compared to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Korean medicine is less well known in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. However, the field offers effective treatment methods that can be useful to students in future practice. While both TCM and Korean medicine have similar roots, Korean medicine is based on a slightly different 5 elements theory. There are also differences regarding the use of herbs, some of which are native to Korea, along with acupuncture techniques. For example, in Korean acupuncture only 1-4 needles are used at a time. 

Pusan National University hopes to offer NUHS students and graduates additional learning opportunities in the future, including in-person training on-campus in South Korea in April 2024. Check the National University of Health Sciences’ website for additional details in the coming months.