Distinguished scholars, colleagues, and honored guests,

 

It is my great pleasure to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for joining us in this International Conference commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Research Institute for Hospice/Palliative Care. I am Sister Mihyun Park, Director of the Research Institute for Hospice/Palliative Care, and I warmly welcome you all.

 

This year marks a significant milestone—the 30th anniversary of our Institute’s founding. To celebrate this meaningful occasion, we had the privilege of hosting the Annual Working Group Meeting in Palliative Care, the global expert meeting organized by the World Health Organization, followed by this International Conference featuring distinguished scholars and professionals from around the world.

 

It is our sincere hope that this gathering will provide an opportunity to learn about innovative developments in palliative care, to build new collaborations, and to strengthen existing partnerships. We also hope that this conference will serve as a meaningful academic forum where researchers and practitioners devoted to hospice and palliative care—both in Korea and across the globe—can grow together through scholarly exchange and global networking.

 

Today, we stand at a pivotal moment in history. Rapid demographic shifts, profound transformations in healthcare systems, and scientific advances grounded in Artificial Intelligence are presenting unprecedented challenges to all of us. The field of hospice and palliative care is likewise undergoing important transitions. Its scope is expanding from a primary focus on cancer patients to care for all individuals with serious health-related suffering. Moreover, what was once considered a model centered largely in Western developed nations is now increasingly recognized as essential healthcare that must be accessible to all people in all countries. Palliative care is not optional; it is fundamental to ensuring human dignity at the end of life.

 

Accordingly, we hope that all healthcare professionals will acquire the essential competencies necessary to understand and deliver palliative care. Yet we must acknowledge that the realities before us are complex, and the path forward is not without significant challenges. At the same time, these very challenges invite innovation. As we enter an era shaped by rapidly accelerating Artificial Intelligence, we as researchers and practitioners in palliative care must reflect deeply on how to embrace change responsibly and how to shape that change in ways that uphold human dignity and compassion.

 

Gathered here today, we share the responsibility of reflecting together on how to respond wisely to these challenges. I firmly believe that our discussions and deliberations during this conference will contribute meaningfully to advancing compassionate and dignified end-of-life care for people around the world.

Let us think deeply, engage actively in dialogue, and move forward together.

 

Once again, I warmly welcome all participants to this International Conference and extend my sincere wishes for a fruitful and blessed gathering.

 

Thank you.