The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeryat The Catholic University of Korea was established in 1973 by Professor Lee Yong-gak, who was serving as Chief of General Surgery. Professor Bin Joo-won, who trained in the United States, became the first department chair and began the first clinical services at Myeongdong St. Mary’s Hospital.

In 1974, a plastic surgery outpatient clinic was established within the Department of Surgery, marking the beginning of formal plastic surgery lectures. The department became an independent entity in 1980. Since then, the department has been led sequentially by Professors Ham Ki-seon (2nd), Lim Poong (4th and 6th), Cho Moon-je (5th), Ahn Sang-tae (7th), Han Ki-taek (8th), Lee Jong-won (9th), Kwon Ho (10th), and currently Professor Jeon Young-joon (11th) as the chair.

To date, the department has produced a total of 198 specialists. Among them, 32 faculty members and 22 residents across seven affiliated hospitals (Seoul St. Mary’s, Yeouido St. Mary’s, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s, Bucheon St. Mary’s, St. Vincent’s, and Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital) actively participate in outpatient care, inpatient care, surgeries, research, and education. Additionally, 171 alumni serving in private practice, military service, or public health continue to provide top-level care in their respective fields.

Since establishing the plastic surgery curriculum at the Catholic University Graduate School of Medicine in 1989, the department has produced 66 Ph.D. graduates and 72 M.S. graduates. The faculty has published a total of 691 papers, including 250 SCI-level publications and 441 non-SCI publications, demonstrating outstanding academic contributions.

In 2019 alone, the department presented 44 papers, including 26 SCI(e) publications, and participated in 181 domestic and international conferences through posters and oral presentations. The department also maintains regular academic activities such as weekly departmental conferences, research meetings, cadaver dissection presentations, resident symposiums, alumni academic conferences, and pre-conference rehearsals to ensure that all members can share knowledge and stay updated with the latest advances.

Furthermore, residents participate in bi-monthly study meetings where they present and discuss plastic surgery knowledge under faculty supervision. The department also conducts four in-training exams annually to evaluate and enhance the learning capabilities of residents.