Dear esteemed members of the Korean Society of Toxicology(KSOT) and the Korean Environmental
Mutagen Society(KEMS),

It is my great honor to serve as the 22nd President of our societies. The year 2026, the Year of the Red Horse, symbolizes progress driven by passion and energy. I sincerely hope that the new year brings renewed vitality and momentum to each of you, and that your aspirations and endeavors come to fruition. It is both a privilege and a joy to extend my warmest New Year’s greetings to all our members.

First, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and respect to our former presidents, including Professor Kyung-Chul Choi, whose dedication and leadership laid the foundation for the remarkable progress we enjoy today. Thanks to their efforts, our society has secured financial stability and strengthened the organizational infrastructure essential for future growth.

As a key member society of both the International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX) and the Asian Society of Toxicology (ASIATOX), KSOT continues to contribute to the advancement of toxicology worldwide. We have recently expanded active academic exchanges with the Japanese Society of Toxicology and the Society of Toxicology in the United States. This year, ASIATOX will be held in Malaysia, and we are also invited to participate in the KSOT–JSOT Joint Symposium in Osaka, opportunities that I hope many of you will join. Similarly, KEMS has carried out vibrant academic activities as a core member of the International Association of Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Societies (IAEMGS) and the Asian Association of Environmental Mutagen Societies (AAEMS). This year, KEMS will officially participate in the JEMS meeting near Tokyo, further strengthening international collaboration.

Our societies have long served as leading academic organizations in Korea, addressing present and emerging challenges in safety, toxicity, and risk assessment, issues that are fundamentally linked to public health and well-being. With members representing diverse disciplines, including natural sciences, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary science, and food science, the role and influence of our societies continue to grow.

During my term as president, I will focus on the following priorities:

First, ensuring continued financial stability.
Our former leadership secured a strong financial foundation. However, given the newly approved revision that shortens the presidential term to one year, expanding institutional membership will become increasingly important. Beginning in January, we will actively engage with toxicology-related industries to broaden institutional support.

Second, fostering the next generation of toxicologists.
Starting this year, chairs of the Young Investigator Committees will join the executive committee as ex officio members, encouraging young scientists to take part in our societies. I personally began participating in KSOT as a junior faculty member in 2004, thanks to the encouragement of senior leaders. In the same spirit, we will support passionate but early-stage toxicologists through fellowship programs and small-group initiatives, backed by generous funding established by Professors Young-Jin Chun and Kyung-Chul Choi. This will help us cultivate the future leadership of our societies.

Third, advancing our journal, Toxicological Research(TR).
Thanks to the dedicated service of our editors and editorial board members, TR has achieved SCI indexing, and its impact factor is expected to approach ~3 this year. I deeply appreciate Professor Mi-Kyoung Kwak, who will once again serve as Editor-in-Chief, and all members of the editorial board. We will continue to support the journal's operational and financial independence. The growth of TR ultimately depends on the continued contributions and engagement of our members. I encourage you to support TR by submitting high-quality manuscripts and promoting its visibility. Our societies will continue every effort to elevate TR into one of the leading journals in the field of toxicology.

Finally, I wish each and every one of you good health, success, and happiness in the new year. May 2026 — the Year of the Red Horse — bring you great joy and prosperity.

Thank you so much.

Keon Wook Kang, Ph.D.
President, Korean Society of Toxicology/Korean Environmental Mutagen Society