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Inherited metabolic diseases is a group of very diverse and special diseases, including carbohydrate metabolism disorders, fatty acid metabolism disorders, amino acid metabolism disorders, organic acid metabolism disorders, lysosomal storage disorders, mitochondrial disorders, and abnormal mineral metabolism. Although the incidence of each inherited metabolic diseases is low, it is quite high in the overall disease group, and it is reported that 6-8% of hospitalized patients have a predisposition to hereditary disease. The group of inherited metabolic diseases includes major diseases that are indications such as enzyme replacement therapy and gene therapy, which are representative treatments for inherited metabolic diseases, as well as newborn screening, and in recent years, more attention has been focused.

Inherited metabolic diseases are a field that requires a high level of attention and research because there are many types of diseases, but their diversity is high even in the onset of a disease, which brings many difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. The development of the promising technology has been delayed in Korea due to various restrictions, but with continuous efforts despite various difficulties, many developments have been made in research, including diagnosis and treatment of diseases of inherited metabolic diseases in Korea.

The Society has held AEWIEM (Asian-European Workshop on Inborn Errors of Metabolism) several times, laying the foundation for internationalization of diagnosis and research of inherited metabolic diseases. It is playing a pivotal role in Asia by holding the General Assembly and AEWIEM joint meeting. It has a close academic exchange relationship with the Japanese Society for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, and actively participates in and cooperates with SSIEM (Society for the study of inborn errors of metabolism), an international society in related fields.

The development of understanding and academic achievement of inherited metabolic diseases can be further developed through active exchange and convergence of clinical medicine such as pediatrics, neurology, internal medicine, and basic sciences such as genetics and biochemistry. Although the overall incidence of incidence is high, the incidence of each disease is extremely low, so joint research at the academic and national level is necessary to overcome the situation that is adding to the difficulty of research. A system that allows clinicians and basic researchers in related fields, including pediatrics and adolescents, to share research results and experiences must be established, and our society intends to play its role.

We ask for the active interest and participation of all doctors and researchers in related fields.

Sung-Chul Jung, president of the Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic Disease