Acupotomy Research Presentation｜ICMART 2025 (France)

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ICMART 2025: Spreading the Excellence of Korean Acupotomy to the World

Hello. I am Dr. Hyocheong Chae, director of Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic. I was temporarily away from the clinic from November 5th to 11th.

First, I would like to express my apologies to the patients who waited for their appointments. During that period, I attended the 37th ICMART International Congress on Medical Acupuncture held in Antibes, France, where I introduced the excellence of Korean acupotomy and engaged in in-depth academic exchange with medical professionals from around the world before returning.

This conference was not only a personal learning experience for me, but also an opportunity to directly confirm the meaning and value of Korean medicine in the world. Today, I would like to share that special experience with our patients.

Medical Acupuncture from a Global Perspective

Upon entering the conference hall, the first thing I noticed was that the interest of global medical professionals in acupuncture treatment was much deeper and broader than expected.

Acupuncture treatment was being discussed with a focus on medical and scientific approaches rather than traditional concepts, and a wide range of research was being conducted, including neurophysiology, tissue response, and functional changes. I personally realized on-site that “acupuncture treatment has now become an important research topic in the global medical field.”

Korean Acupotomy Society Special Session

at this international academic conference,

took charge of the ‘Symposium Korean Medicine Acupotomy’ session and presented the latest research and clinical cases of acupotomy. The research methods, data accumulation process, and academic approaches to acupotomy being conducted in Korea were introduced, and medical professionals from various countries showed great interest.

In particular, the acupotomy demonstration session by the Korean Acupotomy Society received an enthusiastic response, filling the venue. Many overseas doctors filmed and observed intently, and various questions were exchanged regarding Korea’s anatomical explanation methods. At the international academic conference, the Korean Acupotomy Society presented on the following topics:

In the session I participated in, I presented on the topic “Adhesion-Release Mechanism of Acupotomy in Elbow Contracture Case.” I focused on introducing which anatomical elements are observed through acupotomy research, and what academic discussions are taking place domestically.

After the presentation, I shared experiences and research perspectives with medical professionals from various countries, and I remember that many doctors showed interest in Korea’s approach during that process.

President Yoo Myung-seok’s lecture on “Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy through Acupotomy” was one of the sessions that garnered significant attention at this conference. In the demonstration conducted immediately after the lecture, an impromptu demo was performed for Mexican medical professionals, and when the treatment response was confirmed within a short time, the atmosphere on-site became so lively that doctors from various countries wanted to experience it themselves.

You can feel the enthusiasm and concentration even in the photos. Additionally, a program was held to introduce Korea’s acupotomy therapy and demonstrate the procedure based on anatomical structures, and the response was so enthusiastic that medical professionals from around the world filmed it themselves and continued to ask questions. This session was based on academic introduction and demonstration, and was safely structured around the concept and approach of acupotomy.

🇬🇧 Exchange with a British Doctor Researching Acupuncture as ‘Science’

A particularly meaningful personal encounter at the conference was my meeting with Dr. Mike Cummings from the British Medical Acupuncture Society. He is the editor of “Medical Acupuncture: A Western Scientific Approach,” and a prominent figure who interprets and researches acupuncture treatment not in traditional terms, but in scientific and medical language.

I was able to consider how acupuncture reacts to nerves, fascia, and tissues, and how Western medicine understands and explains acupuncture. I shared the current trends in acupotomy research in Korea and the scientific approach to acupointology that I teach at the university. Although Korea and Europe have different healthcare systems, I once again felt that we are connected in the same academic field through the common tools of acupuncture and acupotomy.

🇫🇷 A Warm Conversation with a French Family Doctor

A brief conversation with a French family doctor (Médecine générale) also remains memorable. He said: “I started learning acupuncture because there are pains that are difficult to explain with modern medicine alone. Now, I use acupuncture daily with various patients in my clinic.” Although the healthcare systems of our countries may differ, the desire to understand patients’ pain and

the consideration of various non-surgical approaches are the same. I shared the research trends and observation methods from Korea, and he shared his experience of utilizing acupuncture in French primary care, leading to a meaningful exchange. ICMART 2025 was a significant occasion where we could share the potential and depth of Korean medicine with global medical professionals, learn from each other’s perspectives, and communicate.

Above all, the fact that Korean acupotomy research is being academically introduced in the international community has been a great source of pride for me and a reason to strive even harder in the future. I will continue to study and research diligently so that Korean acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and acupotomy research can be presented on more international academic stages, and on the other hand, I will do my best to grow into a trusted medical professional who can help patients in the clinic.

Thank you for reading. Sincerely, Dr. Hyocheong Chae, Director of Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic https://www.akomnews.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=news&wr_id=65255 We hope you will join Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic, which shares valuable information for a healthy life. Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic in Suji-gu pursues evidence-based medicine and integrative medicine.

This post was written directly by the medical staff of Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic to provide medical information, in compliance with Article 56(2) and Article 57(3) of the Medical Service Act. The duration and outcome of treatment may vary from person to person, so please consult a qualified practitioner before beginning treatment.