Yoo Chul-gyu, a professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), has been appointed as the new president of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology during the 27th Congress of the APSR in Singapore, the SNUH said. He will serve a two-year term starting in November 2023.

The APSR is one of the five most prestigious societies in pulmonology worldwide, as noted by the hospital. Founded in 1983, the society aims to promote and encourage research in respiratory medicine. Notably, this marks only the second time in 15 years that a Korean researcher has been elected president of the APSR since 2008.

"Although the APRS has grown significantly in terms of quantity, it is still trailing behind the U.S. and European pulmonology societies in terms of quality," Yoo stated. "During my term, I will strive to establish institutional mechanisms to enhance the quality of the Society."

Yoo is an esteemed expert in respiratory medicine, having previously served as the president of the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases and as chairman of the Korean Association of Internal Medicine. His research has focused on the pathogenesis of acute lung injury and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.