Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i alchedek

Since your appointment as CEO of APAC and EMEA in May 2025, you have championed an integrated strategy across both regions. Given the significant divergence between APAC and EMEA—ranging from economic structures and regulatory environments to real estate market maturity and client needs—I’d like to delve into your approach to this integration. Now that the unified operating model has been in place for approximately one year, what were the most critical factors you considered when developing an integration strategy applicable to both regions? How are you balancing respect for each region’s unique characteristics while executing a cohesive global vision? Finally, could you share whether you have seen tangible results and quantifiable synergies in key areas such as enhanced global connectivity for clients, improved access to talent, and increased cross-selling and…

Thank you for joining us. To start, could you share with us your primary research focus and the journey that has defined your career? Since joining Hanmi Pharmaceutical in 1998, I have spent nearly three decades immersed in the entire drug development lifecycle, gaining hands-on experience from initial discovery to clinical development. Throughout this journey, I have remained dedicated to developing innovative therapeutics grounded in scientific evidence and addressing unmet clinical needs. As a researcher, I have always held onto my founding principle: ‘to create medicines that deliver genuine value to patients’. This mission has driven me to explore novel mechanisms of action and emerging modalities. I have come to realize that drug development is not simply a collection of technologies, but a multidisciplinary science that thrives on the integration…

Specializing in Aesthetics, Animal Healthcare, and Pharma/Diagnostics CEO Byung-Chul Kim took his first steps in overseas sales in 1993 at an active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing company, and in 1998, he further developed his expertise in international sales of finished pharmaceuticals at Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s trading division. Both active and finished pharmaceuticals are considered among the most heavily regulated areas in the healthcare industry. The experience he gained in this demanding environment provided a solid foundation for pioneering the aesthetic business. He later became a first-generation entrepreneur in overseas aesthetic ventures, entering new markets and now leading Visionmed Ltd. as its CEO. Founded in 2001 as a sole proprietorship, Visionmed began its growth journey after incorporating in 2011. Starting with aesthetic products such as HA fillers, botulinum toxins, cannulas, and skin boosters,…

Plant-Transpiration-Inspired Technology for Self-Generated Electrical Current and Cellular Regeneration Hyungseop Han, PhD, who earned his doctorate in medical sciences from the University of Oxford and currently serves as a Principal Researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology(KIST), has spent the past decade focusing on tissue regeneration and electrical stimulation therapies based on bioelectrical signals. With a clear goal of advancing translational laboratory research into real-world patient care, he founded elecell Co., Ltd. in March 2024 under Korea’s faculty and researcher entrepreneurship program. Drawing on electrical stimulation technologies inspired by natural principles, elecell is developing innovative therapeutic solutions designed for broad accessibility. “While working as a principal researcher at the KIST, I developed a wide range of biomedical engineering technologies,” Han said. “Over time, I felt a growing desire…

A Technology Leader in Precision Sensors and Remote Flight Test Telemetry Systems Driving the Localization of Aerospace Precision Sensors Founded in 2005, Lumax Aerospace has led the advancement of Korea’s aerospace industry as a specialized developer of precision sensors for aerospace and defense applications. The company is particularly recognized for successfully localizing aerospace-grade precision sensors—once entirely dependent on imports—through indigenous technology developed in Korea. Lumax Aerospace has continued its steady growth by localizing the development of precision pressure sensors and atmospheric pressure conversion devices for aerospace applications, providing integrated solutions for flight test infrastructure, and performing military aircraft maintenance(KT-1). Through close collaboration with major customers and institutions—including the Agency for Defense Development(ADD), Hanwha Aerospace, LIG Nex1, Korea Aerospace Industries(KAI), and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute(KARI)—as well as key domestic and…

Establishing a Global Disease Management Framework to Tackle Obesity and Chronic Diseases as a Global Challenge Obesity is widely recognized as a primary driver of various chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Critically, its prevalence is disproportionately higher among socioeconomically vulnerable groups, making it an urgent priority for public health intervention. Over the last decade, Korea’s obesity rates have climbed steadily, bringing a heavy socioeconomic burden. The costs associated with obesity exceeded KRW 33 trillion in 2020 and are projected to triple to approximately KRW 98 trillion by 2035. These staggering figures suggest that obesity is no longer a personal struggle but a hallmark of health inequity that demands systemic institutional support and robust public health policies. The treatment journey—from initial diagnosis to rehabilitation and lifelong management—is both…

Good morning, Director Choi. It is a pleasure to meet you. To start our conversation, could you please introduce the IBS Korea Virus Research Institute and the mission it carries? Hello, it is a pleasure to be here. The IBS Korea Virus Research Institute was established on July 1, 2021, at a critical juncture during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our mission is to prepare for the continuous emergence of new and variant viruses by conducting long-term research into fundamental virology and the immunological characteristics of viral infections. At its inception, the Institute was launched with two centers: the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Virus Research and the Center for Virus Immunology. However, in December 2025, we completed our three-center system with the addition of the Virome and Applied Platform Research Center,…

The global aesthetic market is rapidly shifting from HA fillers to skin boosters. Visionmed Ltd. is responding to this trend by offering differentiated treatment solutions centered on its DA-X Exosome Skin Booster. As part of this effort, the company has developed collaborative protocols combining needle-free application and EBD devices together with domestic and international KOLs. Furthermore, before distributing any product, Visionmed rigorously verifies compliance with GMP standards, safety and biocompatibility data, key quality indicators such as endotoxin levels, and conducts thorough lot-by-lot quality checks to ensure both safety and reliability. CEO Byung-Chul Kim pointed out the current situation in which products are sold for export without proper domestic or international certifications. He emphasized that “excessive price competition from unapproved products could undermine the competitiveness of legitimately registered products”, highlighting the…

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the transition to a hyper-connected society accelerate, the smart sensor industry is emerging as a core battleground in the global competition for technological leadership. The global smart sensor market is projected to grow from 68.6 billion dollars in 2025 to more than 469.9 billion dollars by 2037, sustaining an annual growth rate of over 17.1% and firmly establishing itself as a next-generation growth engine. In Korea, the domestic market is also expected to expand rapidly in line with these global trends, growing from 4.9 billion dollars in 2025 at an average annual rate of 18.1%, thereby laying the groundwork for the country to become one of the world’s top four sensor powerhouses. This growth is underpinned by innovation in next-generation sensor technologies that go…

Delivering Customized End-to-End Solutions by Linking Fabless and Foundries with Deep Design and Process Expertise Synic Solution is a specialized company providing system semiconductor design and development solutions. As a design house that connects foundries and fabless companies, it plays a critical role in translating circuits designed by fabless firms into physical layouts suitable for actual semiconductor manufacturing. Since its establishment in 2005, Synic Solution has built extensive design expertise and process experience over many years. Leveraging this foundation, the company delivers customized, end-to-end solutions for fabless customers, covering the entire value chain—from foundries and photomasks to wafers, semiconductor IP, and assembly and test services—while steadily advancing its position as a global design house. Synic Solution offers platforms optimized for both 8-inch and 12-inch foundry processes and wasnewly listed on…

Hello, Director General. Could you please greet our readers? Hello! I am Dr. Jerome Kim, the Director General of the International Vaccine Institute, and I am excited to be interviewed by alchedek magazine. Could you introduce the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and its main projects? IVI is Korea’s first international organization (founded in 1997) with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines – empowering vaccine equity, impact, and sustainability so that people everywhere can lead healthy and productive lives free from vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. We would like to hear about IVI’s major achievements so far, such as the development and distribution of its own vaccines. IVI’s first vaccine is the oral cholera vaccine (OCV). It was first approved by WHO in 2011. OCV technology has…

Thank you for joining us for this special interview. To begin, we would like to ask about your professional background and leadership journey since taking the helm of 3M Korea in 2023. In addition, how have your over 32 years of experience and insights gained on the global stage been shaped into the management philosophy and leadership style you bring to 3M Korea today? My journey with 3M began in 1991 when I joined 3M Korea. Over the years, I have worked across a wide range of functions—including marketing, sales, Six Sigma, and human resources—which provided me with a deep, holistic understanding of the organization. Through these experiences, I learned the critical importance of cross-functional collaboration and organizational synergy. I have also had the opportunity to work in several countries,…