It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility that I assume the role of Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Chest Surgery (JCS), the official journal of the Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (KSTCS), effective January 1, 2025. Over the past 5 years, I have been actively involved with the KSTCS publication committee, serving as its secretary for 3 of those years. During this time, the journal underwent significant changes, including a name change from the Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery to the Journal of Chest Surgery, and a revamp of its website. These changes were part of a broader effort to internationalize the journal and increase its stature as a highly cited publication. We are immensely grateful for the dedication and hard work of our former Editor-in-Chief, Professor Han-Ki Park. His efforts have positioned JCS on the brink of inclusion in the Web of Science Core Collection under the Emerging Sources Citation Index (E-SCI). Currently, JCS is diligently working to fulfill the criteria for inclusion in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE).

We are facing an unprecedented situation that is unfamiliar to all of us. For nearly a year, residents and medical students have put their work and studies on hold. As a result, South Korea’s healthcare system, which is renowned for being among the best in the world, especially in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, is not operating at its usual level of activity. This downturn has affected not only clinical practice but also academic activities, leading to a significant decline in submissions from South Korea to JCS [1]. In some ways, this period may require us to prioritize survival over growth and progress. On a personal note, I feel a profound responsibility in my role as editor-in-chief, not just to maintain but to advance our journal under these challenging conditions. The role of an editor-in-chief cannot be sustained without the dedication and support of all members of the KSTCS. I pledge to do my utmost with humility, dedicating my efforts to serving our members.

An important change related to the JCS this year is that it will now also serve as the official journal for the Taiwan Society of Thoracic Surgeons (TSTS), in addition to the KSTCS [2]. The renaming of JCS from the Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery was a key part of our internationalization efforts. This new partnership with TSTS represents a further step in that direction. TSTS is a highly active society, with a focus on general thoracic surgery and significant academic capabilities. I believe this collaboration with Taiwan will promote mutual growth for both societies and significantly contribute to the advancement of JCS.

Once again, I ask for the continued support and dedication of the members of the KSTCS and TSTS. Let us remember that the darkest hour is just before dawn. I would like to re-emphasize that I am committed to working tirelessly for the advancement of JCS.

Author contributions

All the work was done by Seong Yong Park.

Conflict of interest

Seong Yong Park serves as an editor of the Journal of Chest Surgery, but has no role in the decision to publish this article. Except for that, no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.