The Department of Emergency Medicine at the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine traces its roots back to Professor Se-Kyung Kim, who, while working as a surgeon, was appointed the head of the Emergency Room at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in 1987. Starting in 1990, the department launched the first residency training program in emergency medicine in Korea. In 1995, emergency medicine was officially recognized as an independent specialty through the revision of the “Regulations on the Training and Certification of Specialists.” In 1998, the department was formally approved as the Department of Emergency Medicine, initiating structured education and research programs at both the master’s and doctoral levels.

As the medical importance of various emergency procedures—such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)—has become increasingly recognized, public interest in emergency care has also risen due to numerous disasters and accidents. In this context, our department continues to lead academic and clinical advancements in emergency medicine through ongoing research and education.

Faculty members of the department are actively engaged not only in adult acute care but also in pediatric and trauma emergencies. They serve across the emergency centers of hospitals under the Catholic Central Medical Center, dedicated themselves to providing rapid and appropriate treatment for patients with life-threatening conditions. Based on a structured residency program, the Department of Emergency Medicine consistently trains specialists with both strong clinical expertise in the management of critically ill patients and solid research capabilities, thereby producing professionals who can take a leading role in regional emergency medical care.