Korean College of Rheumatology: Forty Years of Excellence.

Rheumatology in Korea began as an independent field in October 1979, when senior professors of orthopedics, internal medicine, and pediatrics held a preparatory meeting at the Scandinavian Club in the National Medical Center [1]. In November 1980, 21 promoters held a general meeting of the Korean Rheumatism Association, and in January 1981, the inaugural general meeting and a commemorative symposium were held in Seoul National University Hospital. Professor Moon-Sik Han served as the president of the KCR for 10 years from the launching of the society. Since then, the Association has held two academic conferences every year. In November 1990, the first Asian Pacific League Against Rheumatism (APLAR) Seoul Symposium was held in Seoul, and 400 people from more than 20 countries attended. The Korean Rheumatism Association joined the Korean Medical Association Branch Science Council (currently the Korean Medical Association) as an associate member in 1983 and was approved as a full member in 2000. It was renamed the Korean College of Rheumatology in 2010 and adopted a new logo, which remains in use.