History

The Daejeon-Chungcheong branch began in December 2002 as the Jungbu Arthroscopy Study Group. At that time, the group was launched with an eight-member board including President Gwang-Jin Lee, Secretary Seung-Ki Kim, Gwang-Won Lee, Chan-Hee Park, Ki-Yong Byun, Jin-Young Park, Hong-Yong Jeong, and Jae-Young Cho. It subsequently developed through the voluntary participation of professors, training supervisors, and private practitioners who were responsible for knee and arthroscopy care across the Daejeon and Chungcheong regions. At present, the society includes knee specialists from eight training hospitals in Daejeon and Chungcheongnam-do/Chungcheongbuk-do as well as specialists from orthopaedic hospitals in the region.

On December 8, 2007, with the unanimous support of all members, the 2007 Daejeon-Chungcheong Knee Study Group Symposium was held, and the organization was renamed the Daejeon-Chungcheong Knee Study Group. Professor Gwang-Jin Lee of Chungnam National University was appointed as the inaugural president, Professor Gwang-Won Lee of Eulji University as secretary, and Professor Hong-Yong Jeong of Konyang University as executive officer. Through the dedicated efforts of the leadership, the group successfully hosted the Korean Knee Society Symposium in 2009, was officially approved as the Daejeon-Chungcheong branch of the Korean Knee Society, changed its name accordingly, and successfully held the symposium on November 14 of the same year.

In 2013, third president Professor Moon-Jip Yoo of Dankook University and secretary Professor Gwang-Won Lee recognized the lack of in-depth discussion on anterior cruciate ligament injuries and proposed a dedicated academic meeting to promote more active discussion and exchange among members. After approximately one year of preparation, the 1st ACL Symposium was successfully held at Eulji University Hospital in Daejeon on February 9, 2014, with about 60 distinguished and experienced professors invited as chairs and speakers. Since then, the symposium has been prepared every year with increasingly richer and more practical content, including invited international lectures, and has continued to grow successfully.

Since then, the branch has continuously maintained regular case conferences and academic meetings centered on its affiliated training hospitals, thereby expanding academic exchange in the field of knee surgery throughout the region. Members have strengthened the academic foundation of the branch through case discussions, exchange of clinical experience, and practical debate on surgical techniques and treatment strategies.

In 2025, in order to further promote academic activities among members, the non-profit corporation “Daejeon-Chungcheong Knee Society” was formally established. At present, approximately 50 members participate in 6 to 8 regular meetings per year, including case discussions, invited lectures by leading Korean knee experts, and member-led presentations, thereby fostering both academic advancement and collegial fellowship within the society.