Once again, congratulations on being selected as the winner of the ‘Doosan Yonkang Academic Awards - Surgeon’s division’.

I believe this award is not a recognition of my personal achievement, but a reflection of the long and dedicated journey of the Korean Breast Cancer Society (KBCS). Research on young premenopausal breast cancer in Korea began with the Society’s registry-based studies, led by pioneering senior investigators who laid the foundation for the ASTRRA project. Building upon their vision, the ASTRRA study has helped change the global treatment paradigm for young women with breast cancer. This progress was only possible thanks to the commitment and collaboration of our Society members and research teams across the country. I am deeply grateful to stand on their shoulders and to continue advancing patient-centered research that carries the spirit and excellence of Korean breast cancer studies to the world.

Among the many fields of medicine, I would like to hear the reason why you chose “surgery” as your major.

During my residency training, I was drawn to the essence of surgery—seeing disease with my own eyes and healing with my own hands. Breast surgery, in particular, goes beyond removing tumors; it protects a woman’s identity and quality of life. The opportunity to stand by patients beyond surgery, helping them overcome fear and regain confidence, makes this field deeply meaningful. Through each patient’s recovery, I feel the purest essence of medicine—the act of restoring life itself.

It would be grateful if you are able to explain the field you are working on, and the importance of the research.

My research focuses on personalized endocrine therapy and survivorship care for young premenopausal women with breast cancer. The ASTRRA study was initiated to understand why young patients often have poorer survival outcomes and how to improve them. Rather than intensifying chemotherapy, we found that amenorrhea and effective hormonal suppression could significantly enhance survival. However, this benefit came with an inevitable trade-off—ovarian function decline and loss of fertility potential. As a result, our work has naturally evolved into fertility preservation research, aimed at protecting reproductive health while maintaining optimal oncologic outcomes. We are developing multidisciplinary counseling systems and shared-decision tools to help young women plan for pregnancy safely during or after treatment. Moving forward, our goal is to establish individualized ovarian suppression and fertility preservation guidelines that consider each patient’s hormonal and reproductive profile— ultimately improving both survival and quality of life for young women with breast cancer.

Could you please provide an explanation of the award-winning research paper?

The awarded paper, ASTRRA II, is a nationwide multicenter clinical trial conducted through the Korean Breast Cancer Society (KBCS) research network. A total of 1,483 premenopausal women younger than 45 years with estrogen-receptor–positive early breast cancer were randomized to receive either tamoxifen alone (n = 742) or tamoxifen plus 2 years of ovarian function suppression (OFS) (n = 741). Among women who remained premenopausal after chemotherapy, the OFS combination group showed a significantly better disease-free survival compared with the tamoxifen-alone group (HR = 0.67, P = 0.0027), and the survival gap widened over time. This study provided pivotal evidence that amenorrhea and effective hormonal suppression can improve survival in young women with hormone-receptor–positive breast cancer. However, these benefits also brought inevitable challenges, including ovarian function decline and loss of fertility potential. To address these concerns, the POST-ASTRRA research consortium was established, expanding investigations into fertility preservation, late recurrence prediction, and long-term survivorship care. The ASTRRA trial stands as a landmark example of how a KBCS-led collaborative effort has evolved into global clinical evidence, and it continues to guide the development of personalized ovarian suppression and integrated fertility-survivorship strategies for young women with breast cancer.

I would like to inquire about your plans as a researcher and surgeon.

I plan to continue focusing on research that improves treatment and survivorship outcomes for young women with breast cancer. Building on the ASTRRA data, my next goal is to establish individualized endocrine treatment strategies that reflect each patient’s hormonal and reproductive profile. I also aim to clarify the optimal duration of ovarian suppression, recovery after treatment discontinuation, and the safety of pregnancy after therapy. As a clinician, I will keep bridging research and clinical practice so that our findings can truly support patients’ decisions and lives after cancer. In addition, I hope to collaborate with young breast cancer researchers around the world to improve treatment environments and break down country-specific barriers, so that young patients everywhere can receive better and fairer care.

Lastly, could you please share a few words of encouragement or advice for your fellow surgeons who are applying for the ‘Doosan Yonkang Academic Awards - Surgeon’s division’?

The Doosan Yonkang Surgical Award is not merely about recognition of research outcomes; it is a moment to reflect on the time, effort, and purpose behind our work for patients. Starting a study can feel daunting, and progress is often slow, but every small step ultimately becomes part of the evidence that shapes better care. To fellow surgeons and researchers considering this award, I would say—record every observation, and don’t give up easily. Even a small question or a single patient’s story can become the seed for research that changes the way we treat and understand disease.