Greetings. My name is Kim Hyung-Kwan, a cardiologist at Seoul National University Hospital. I serve as the Secretary-General of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Research Group of the Korean Society of Echocardiography, the only dedicated HCM research organization in Korea.

Approximately two years ago, our [HCM Research Group] was launched under the leadership of Professor Lee Sang-Cheol of Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, with the goal of advancing research into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare and complex disease. Thanks to the tremendous support and enthusiasm of our member professors, the group has grown into one of the most dynamic academic research societies within the field. Building upon the strong foundation laid over the past two years, we are now preparing for a transformation that goes far beyond simple knowledge sharing. We are preparing for a major transformation that will shift the paradigm of HCM care in Korea.

For many years, we have looked to the guidelines of the United States (ACC/AHA) and Europe (ESC) as our guiding benchmarks. However, the clinical gap that arises when Western data-based predictive models are applied to Korean patients has long been a persistent challenge in clinical practice.

Cohort studies published by numerous domestic research teams have consistently demonstrated the unique characteristics of Korean HCM patients. The time has now come to consolidate these individual findings into a unified framework and complete a Korean-optimized “Sudden Cardiac Death risk stratification model (K-SCD Risk Model).”

To this end, the Research Group has officially launched a nationwide “Multicenter Registry for HCM” project as of 2026. This multi-institutional study will serve as a pivotal opportunity to establish our own “clinical standards” that do rely on Western criteria and to secure true data sovereignty. In particular, led by the HIT (Heart Imagers of Tomorrow) faculty which is the future of the KSE, we plan to systematize vast datasets gathered from multiple institutions and sublimate them into world-class academic assets.

Echocardiography is the cornerstone of HCM management. Our Research Group aims to go further by integrating multimodality imaging including MRI and CT in order to precisely characterize myocardial fibrosis and degeneration. This will not only enhance diagnostic accuracy, but will also pave the way for the realization of “Precision Medicine,” enabling individualized prognostic prediction for each patient. In parallel, we plan to conduct in-depth research and education in the field of genetic testing, an area of rapidly growing importance in HCM care.

The [HCM Research Group] is at the forefront of elevating the diagnostic and therapeutic standards of the domestic expert community by regularly sharing challenging cases and the latest clinical evidence.

We are equally committed to the education of patients and their families. By addressing unfounded fears about the disease with scientific evidence and delivering accurate information, we aim to build deep and lasting trust between healthcare providers and patients. As part of this effort, we successfully held two patient education sessions in 2025.

The [HCM Research Group] is the most reliable platform for addressing the clinical questions you face and for channeling your passion for research into meaningful outcomes. The data from each and every patient you encounter in your practice becomes a precious building block in constructing Korea's national standard for HCM care (K-HCM Registry).

With the pride of knowing that the finest experts in Korea stand together in this endeavor, we sincerely invite you to join us on this path we are building together. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the society office if you wish to be part of this initiative.

Thank you.