Date: October 25 – October 27, 2023

Venue: Jeju International Convention Center (ICC) (224 Jungmungwangwang-ro, Seogwipo-si, Seoul, South Korea)

Website: https://en.dental-expo.com/cadex

Seoul, South Korea: Established on May 28, 1959, the Korean Association of Orthodontists (KAO) holds a distinguished place in the history of dentistry in South Korea. With its inception marked by an inaugural meeting at Severance Hospital, KAO quickly became a pioneering branch academy of dentistry in the country, reflecting the growing demand for specialized orthodontic care.

Pioneering Orthodontic Excellence

At its founding, KAO was led by Dr. Gwi-Sun Kim as President and Dr. Han-Soo Lee as the Secretary General. This early leadership laid the foundation for the organization’s commitment to achieving academic excellence in orthodontic treatment. In the years that followed, KAO’s influence grew, leading to the establishment of seven other branch academies of dentistry in Korea.

Nurturing Specialized Expertise

In October 1959, the semi-annual scientific congress of the Korean Dental Association was held at the School of Dentistry in Seoul National University. This event was instrumental in shaping the constitution of the Korean Dental Association, which emphasized the importance of specialized branch academies. It was established that new branch academies, like KAO, would be recommended by the Committee of Scientific Affairs and approved by the Board of Trustees. This policy, put in place during the 11th General Assembly on October 11, 1962, continues to guide the association’s development to this day.

Symbolism in the KAO Logo

The KAO’s logo carries deep symbolism. The broken lines within the logo represent an open mouth and teeth, central to orthodontics. A thin curved line crosses the circle in a manner reminiscent of the Korean national flag’s taegeuk mark, emphasizing the organization’s Korean identity. Additionally, a thick curved line, shaped like a snake, symbolizes medicine and the arch wire, a vital component in orthodontic treatment.

Friendly Faces: “Barumi and Gowmi”

To make orthodontic treatment more approachable, KAO introduced two endearing characters named “Barumi” and “Gowmi.” These characters were selected based on a survey conducted among 1,500 people in the general public. “Barumi,” a masculine character, derives its name from the Korean pronunciation of straight teeth, while “Gowmi,” the feminine character, is named after the Korean pronunciation of beautiful teeth.