An Interview with Professor Woo Taek Jeon, Honoree of the 8th Myeonggok Medical Education Award

This article presents an interview with Professor Jeon Woo-taek from Yonsei University College of Medicine, the recipient of the 8th Myunggok Medical Education Award. The interview was conducted by two student editors of the Korean Medical Education Review during the 41st Korean Society of Medical Education conference on May 15, 2025. As a social psychiatrist specializing in North Korean and unification-related research, Professor Jeon has dedicated over 20 years to advancing Korean medical education by introducing humanities and social medicine curricula and promoting communication and collaboration among medical students and faculty. The interview explored three key themes: the qualities of physicians, challenges in medical education, and professional passion. Regarding physician excellence, Professor Jeon emphasized three essential qualities: clinical competence, communication skills, and the ability to serve as a comprehensive care coordinator addressing all patient concerns through a one-stop system. His perspective was informed by his personal experiences as a patient’s family member, highlighting the gap between patient needs and current healthcare delivery systems. Turning to challenges in medical education, he identified three critical issues facing Korean medical education: resolving physician-government conflicts, securing specialists in essential medical fields, and adapting to the artificial intelligence (AI) era. He noted that the recent 2-year stagnation in Korean medical education coincided with rapid advancements in AI, presenting both challenges and opportunities for transformation. He advocated for shifting from knowledge-based learning to learning what we do not know, emphasizing student engagement and critical thinking. Regarding sustained passion, Professor Jeon discussed his long-term commitment to combining research and activities in both psychiatry and medical education, describing this dual focus as his professional strategy. He acknowledged the crucial role of dedicated colleagues in supporting his concentrated efforts and collective contributions to the medical education society’s rapid growth. The interview concluded with his encouragement for future physicians to consider medicine as a profession that deals with national and human welfare, suggesting that this perspective makes medical practice more fulfilling.