Congratulations on the publication of the first issue of Integrative Medicine Research

Published by Elsevier. This is an open access article under the s we anticipate the forthcoming 400th anniversary of the ublication of Donguibogam, a monumental achievement of raditional medicine in East Asia, the inauguration of Integraive Medicine Research is timely and welcome news. I hope and elieve that the journal will become a new milestone for the lobal medicine. Whereas the 20th century was marked by the industryased society, in the 21st century, we are progressing into a nowledge-based society. We are going through a transition rom an era in which economic clout and productivity genrated affluence to one in which the value and amount of nowledge determine our future prospects. Accumulation and reation of knowledge are not made automatically. While the cademic endeavors of scientists in various fields result in the uantitative development of knowledge, the paradigm shift chieved through communication among and convergence of iverse academic fields brings about the qualitative creation f knowledge. The field of medicine is no exception. Korea has a unique medical system; the country’s health nd medical system is made up of two axes, the traditional edicine with well-organized theories and extensive clinial experiences and Western medicine, which has developed apidly to reach the global level in just about 100 years after it was first introduced here. Accordingly, constant rivalry and conflicts have existed between these twomedical fields. However, I firmly believe that this dualmedical systemwill provide the richest soil for integrative medicine in the knowledgebased society of the 21st century. There still remain a number of difficulties for integrative medicine to contribute to the development of health andmedical care around the world. It is true that there have been few studies that fully utilized the advantages of these two fields due to problems in historical and context-based understanding of the respective medical fields, development of new research methodologies, and language for smooth bilateral communication. Integrative Medicine Research is being inaugurated in the face of such circumstances, in an era when the industry-based and knowledge-based societies and the fields of traditional and Western medicines coexist. It is a big challenge, but I believe that it holds great possibilities and significance. Now, the journal will provide a medium for creation and discussion of numerous topics that will help integrative medicine’s progress into the future. I’m certain that through its success, IntegrativeMedicine Researchwill contribute to the development of integrative medicine. I sincerely wish for great success in the future of Integrative Medicine Research. December 2012